We Congratulate Dr. Betül Çimenli Olcars on the Completion of Her PhD
We are proud to share the exciting news that Betül Çimenli Olcars has successfully defended her PhD dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy in English Language Teaching from Middle East Technical University (METU).
Her dissertation, titled “A Conversation Analytic Investigation of Resources for Alignment and Affiliation in Topic Management During Video-Mediated Virtual Exchange,” offers a significant contribution to the fields of applied linguistics and conversation analysis. Through meticulous analysis of video-mediated interactions in virtual exchange settings, her research provides insights into the interactional resources that facilitate alignment and affiliation, two crucial aspects of collaborative interaction.
Dr. Çimenli Olcars conducted her doctoral research under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hale Işık Güler, with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ufuk Balaman serving as co-supervisor. Her examining committee included prominent scholars from Türkiye and abroad, including Prof. Dr. Christopher Jenks (Utrecht University), Prof. Dr. Olcay Sert (Mälardalen University), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elvan Eda Işık (METU), and Asst. Prof. Dr. Fatma Badem (Bartın University).
In a heartfelt dedication, Dr. Çimenli Olcars wrote: “To every woman who has been denied the chance to pursue her dreams…”
As the Department of Foreign Language Education at Bartın University, we warmly congratulate Dr. Betül Çimenli Olcars on this important academic milestone. Her dedication to research and her commitment to professional development continue to inspire both her colleagues and students. We wish her continued success in her academic career and look forward to her future contributions to the field.