ATAA 40th Anniversary Conference

Friday, October 4, 2019, 6:00pm
Sheridan Cir., NW, Washington, DC 20008

Wreath Laying Ceremony at Atatürk Monument at Sheridan Circle

Saturday, October 5, 2019 – 8:00am-11:30pm
The Westin Crystal City, Arlington, VA

8:00am-8:50am

Registration & Light Breakfast

8:50am-9:00am

Opening Ceremony & Welcoming Remarks

9:00am-10:00am

Atatürk: The War of Independence & the Creation of the Modern Turkey

• Sevgin Oktay, ATAA NY Region Vice President
• Dr. Justin A. McCarthy, Professor of History, University of Louisville
• Dr. George W. Gawrych, Professor of History, Baylor University

10:10am-10:40am

Early Turkish Immigrants in the U.S. & Their Role in the Turkish Independence War

• Dr. Işıl Acehan, Visiting Professor of History, George Mason University

10:50am-11:50am

The Impact of Turkish National Movement on 20th Century Politics

• Nilüfer E. Bilgin, ATAA First Vice President/Mid-Central Region Vice President
• Dr. Paul Kubicek, Professor of Political Science, Oakland University
• Dr. Emine Evered, Associate Professor of History, Michigan State University

12:15pm-1:30pm

Luncheon & Keynote Speeches

• Ambassador (Ret.) Dr. Şükrü M. Elekdağ (Video Message)
• Dr. Yalçın Ayaslı, Founder and Chairman, Turkish Coalition of America
• The Hon. Ed Whitfield, U.S. House of Representatives (1995-2016)

1:40pm-2:40pm

Independence War, Turks in the US, Politics Effecting Turks

• Prof. Dr. Emre Kongar, Writer, Former Turkish Undersecretary of Culture

2:50pm-3:50pm

40 Years of ATAA's Accomplishment and Plans for Future

• Mazlum Koşma, ATAA Treasurer
• Dr. Ülkü Ülgür, ATAA Past President, Member of the Board of Trustees
• Dr. Bülent Başol, ATAA Past President, Chairman of the ATAA Board of Trustees
• Nurten Ural, ATAA Past President, Member of the ATAA Board of Trustees
• Ergün Kırlıkovalı, ATAA Past President, Member of the ATAA Board of Trustees
• Kenan Çağlar, ATAA Past President
• Gökhan Özalp, ATAA President

4:00pm-5:00pm

Bright Future Turkish Language and Culture Project

• Kayhan Yılmaz, ATAA Education Committee Chair & Capital Region Vice President
• Dr. Halil Ersoy, Assistant Professor, Baskent University
• Hülya Koç, Bright Future Committee Member
• Lale Iskarpatyoti, Bright Future Committee Member

5:10pm-6:10pm

Turkish American Associations: Bringing Together the Community

• Burcu Tansu, ATAA Western Region Vice President
• Dr. Ayça Altıntığ, Past President, American Turkish Association of Southern California
• Mehmet Yaya, President, Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan
• Engin Ateş, President, Turkish American Society of Northeast Ohio
• Hande Ayan, Past President, American Turkish Association of Washington, DC
• Müge Türkman, Past President, Maryland American Turkish Association

6:10pm-6:20pm

Closing Remarks

7:00pm-8:00pm

40th Anniversary Reception

8:00pm-11:30pm

40th Anniversary Gala

• Welcoming Remarks
• Keynote Speech by Prof. Dr. Emre Kongar
• Dinner & Annual Awards Ceremony
• Live music by Zeynep Moore & AlaTurka Band