Education changes lives, and it did it for me. I could not even dream that I would come this far in life. And it happened thanks to my education and many wonderful people who helped me along the way. I was born to parents who were poor subsistence farmers in a small village in Turkey. My father lost his parents at a very young age, and his relatives did not permit him to continue beyond the fifth grade so that he could take care of the farm animals. My mother did not have her family’s support to continue beyond the fifth grade due to the cultural (gender) norms at the time in the countryside. My parents, two of the most intelligent people I know, had to make the best of what they had, and they did.

Hard work and education were very important for my parents. In our home, no one could stay idle. Even as a very young child, I started helping my parents on the farm, mostly by taking care of our cows. I started my education in the one-room school in our village. My mom used to ask me math questions all the time (mostly the multiplication table) to make sure that I knew my stuff. The village school closed since most people moved out of the countryside to Istanbul, and I had to leave my parents’ home at the age of seven to live with my relatives so that I could continue my education. From then on, I lived with many different relatives (until I came to the US) to continue my education. These wonderful people made it possible for me to continue my education. 

When I was at school, I did not have big dreams. I thought finishing high school would be the most that I could accomplish due to my family’s financial challenges. Little did I know that my life was about to change thanks to one of my high school teachers. Recognizing my financially difficult situation, my teacher told me “Serkan, you get into a university in Istanbul, we will take care of paying for it.” Her support lit a fire in me to work harder than before. I finished high school as a valedictorian, and I got admitted to a great university in Istanbul (Marmara University, Business Administration instructed in English). From Marmara University, I came to Beloit College (Beloit, WI) as an exchange student. While at Beloit, I fell in love with liberal arts education, and I ended up transferring as a regular student. My life changed again with dedicated and caring Beloit professors like Professor Ranjan Roy who took the time to mentor me not only about my studies but also about life. From there, I headed to West Virginia University for my PhD. And that was more than 14 years ago!

Thanks to many wonderful people who provided help and guidance to me over the many years, I am now working for a prestigious institution like UIS as an Associate Professor Finance and PNC Professor in Banking & Finance, something that I could not even dream of as a poor country boy. As a living example, I strongly believe that education can unlock the doors to a great future for students, especially those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. I also know that a committed teacher can change a student’s life. This is why I love my job and I do my best every day to help and inspire my students.