I have been a professor of urban design and city planning at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Turkey since 2001. I worked as a planner, professor, researcher and consultant for private, public, and national/international non-governmental organisations and institutions in Turkey, the U.S., Norway, Denmark, and the U.K. Some national and international academic awards and grants include the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP), master and doctorate supervisor awards at METU, and grants from SUNY Binghamton University, the governments of Norway and Belgium. Integrating performance arts activities with spatial design education has always taken a central role in my design pedagogy. In recent years, I have carried this to a collaboration between the university and K12 students. Additionally, my professional and academic interest and publications mainly focus on participatory planning and design, sustainability and social change, cultural heritage and environmental conservation, people and environment relations. I am fluent in English, French and Turkish (mother tongue). Furthermore, I am an activist in peacemaking, healthy and happy living.