Curriculum Vitae

Last updated: October 2023

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8818-7265

h-index score: 8,

Scopus citations: 257,

Google Scholar citations: 603

CV last updated October 2023

 

 

 EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Mass Communication, University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications, Department of Public Relations, Gainesville, Florida, USA. Dissertation Title: Public Relations, Public Diplomacy, and Immigrant Integration in the European Union: An Analysis of the Turkish Diaspora in the Capital of Europe. 09/2009, Prof. Juan-Carlos Molleda, University of Florida	2006-2009
Master of Arts in Public Relations, University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications, Department of Public Relations, Gainesville, Florida, USA.	2004-2006
Thesis Title: Reputation Management of the Big Four Public Accounting Firms After the Enron and Arthur Andersen Scandals. 09/2006, Prof. Linda Hon, University of Florida
Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Design, Bilkent University, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Department of Communication and Design, Ankara, Turkey.	2000-2004

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE

Assistant Professor, Bilkent University, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Department of Communication and Design, Ankara, Turkey. Instructor, Ph.D. Bilkent University, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Department of Communication and Design, Ankara, Turkey.		March 2017-Present 2012-Feb 2017
Part-time Instructor, Ph.D. Bilkent University, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Department of Communication and Design, Ankara, Turkey.		2009-2012
Communication Specialist. UNICEF Turkey Country Office, Ankara, Turkey.		2010-2012
Communication Graduate Assistant. University of Florida, College of Dentistry, Dean’s Office, Gainesville, Florida, USA. Teaching Assistant. University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications, Department of Public Relations, Gainesville, Florida, USA.		2006-2009   2006-2009

SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS

Ozdora-Aksak, E., Dikmen, E. Ş., & Kılıç, N. P. (2023). Managing Pandemic Communication Online: Turkish Ministry of Health’s Digital Communication Strategies during COVID-19. International Journal of Communication, 17, 1551-1572.

Dimitrova, D., & Ozdora-Aksak, E. (2023) What a Difference Context Makes: Comparing Communication Strategies of Migration NGOs in Two Neighboring Countries, Journal of Borderlands Studies, 1-18. 1080/08865655.2022.2161065 (SSCI)

Uysal, N., & Ozdora Aksak, E. (2022). ‘Waging War’ for Doing Good? The Fortune Global 500’s Framing of Corporate Responses to COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainability, 14(5), 3012. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14053012 (SSCI)

Ozdora-Aksak, E., Connolly-Ahern, C., & Dimitrova, D. 2021. Victims or Intruders? Refugee Portrayals in the News in Turkey, Bulgaria, and the UK, Special issue of Media War and Conflict. (Scopus)

Ozdora-Aksak, E. & Dimitrova, D. V. 2021. Walking on a Tightrope: Challenges and Opportunities for Civil Society Organizations Working with Refugees and Migrants in Turkey. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, online, doi: 10.1007/s11266-020-00312-8. (SSCI)

Ozdora Aksak, E. 2020. Discursive Construction of Syrian Refugees in Shaping International Public Opinion: Turkey’s Public Diplomacy Efforts, Discourse and Communication, 14(3): 294-313. doi: 10.1177/1750481319893769. (SSCI)

Dimitrova, D. V., Ozdora Aksak, E., & Connolly-Ahern, C. 2018. On the Border of the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Views from Two Different Cultural Perspectives, American Behavioral Scientist, 62(4): 532-546. doi:10.1177/0002764218756920. (SSCI)

Ozdora-Aksak, E. and Atakan-Duman, S. 2016. Gaining legitimacy through CSR: An analysis of Turkey’s 30 largest corporations. Business Ethics: A European Review, 25(3): 238-257. doi: 10.1111/beer.12114. (SSCI)

Ozdora-Aksak, E., Ferguson, M.A. and Atakan-Duman, S. 2016. Corporate social responsibility and CSR fit as predictors of corporate reputation: A global perspective. Public Relations Review, 42(1): 79-81. doi: 10.1016/j.pubrev.2015.11.004. (SSCI)

Ozdora-Aksak, E. 2015. An Analysis of Turkey’s Telecommunications Sector’s Online Presence: How Corporate Social Responsibility Contributes to Organizational Identity Construction, Public Relations Review, 41(3): 365-369 doi: 10.1016/j.pubrev.2015.01.001. (SSCI)

Ozdora-Aksak, E. and Atakan-Duman, S. 2015. The online presence of Turkish banks: Communicating the softer side of corporate identity. Public Relations Review, 41(1): 119-128. doi: 10.1016/j.pubrev.2014.10.004. (SSCI)

Atakan-Duman, S. and Ozdora-Aksak, E. 2014. The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Online Identity Construction: An Analysis of Turkey’s Banking Sector, Public Relations Review, 40(3): 862-864. doi: 10.10167j.pubrev.2014.07.004. (SSCI)

Ozdora-Aksak, E. and Molleda J. C. 2014. Immigrant Integration through Public Relations and Public Diplomacy: An Analysis of the Turkish Diaspora in the Capital of the European Union. Turkish Studies, 15(2), 220-241. doi: 10.1080/14683849.2014.926235. (SSCI)

 

BOOKS and BOOK CHAPTERS

• Ozdora-Aksak, E., & Dimitrova, D. (2021). “Giving Voice to the Voiceless: The Case of Development Workshop Collective in Turkey,” In Source, G. (ed.) Media, Cultural & Communication Studies: Global Perspectives on NGO Communication for Social Change. Routledge.
• Dikmen, E. Ş., Kılıç, N. P., & Ozdora-Aksak, E. “Pandemi Döneminde Kamu Spotlarının Çevrim içi Paylaşım Mecraları: T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı YouTube Kanalı Örneği,” (pp. 75-104). In Erhan Eroğlu & Figen Ünal Çolak (Eds.) Sosyal Bilimci Gözüyle Pandemi: COVID-19 Üzerine Araştırma, Uygulama ve Tartışmalar. Literatürk Yayınları, İstanbul.

• Dikmen, E. Ş., Ince, L. Y., & Ozdora Aksak, E. “Game Studies State of the Field: Lessons from the Past and Directions for the Future” (pp. 105-122). In Enes Emre Başar (Ed.) Paradigm Shifts within the Communication World. Nova Publishers, New York.
• Atakan-Duman, S. and Ozdora-Aksak, E. 2014. Organizational Identity and Corporate Social Responsibility: Insights form Turkey’s Banking Sector. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing: Saarbrücken, Germany. ISBN: 978-3-659-63191-7.

 

Other Scholarly Publications

Altun, I., & Ozdora Aksak, E. 2019. Sponsorlu İçerik Marka İmajını Kurtarabilir mi: Türkiye’deki Teknoloji ve Telekomünikasyon Endüstrisinden Bir Vaka (Can Sponsored Content Be a Savior for Brand Image: A Case Study from Technology & Telecommunications Industry in Turkey) İletişim Kuram ve Araştırma Dergisi (48), 496-510.

Atakan Duman, S. and Ozdora-Aksak, E. 2017. The CSR Agenda of a Family Holding in Oil Extraction and Mining: An analysis of Turkey’s Pet Holding (Pet Holding Örnek Olay İncelemesi: Türkiye’de Bir Petrol Arama ve Madencilik Aile Şirketinin Kurumsal Sosyal Sorumluluk Gündemi), İletişim Kuram ve Araştırma Dergisi, 44, 2-16.

Atakan Duman, S. and Ozdora-Aksak, E. 2017. ‘Türkiye’de Kurumsal Sosyal Sorumluluğun Kavramsallaştırılması: Meta Sentez Analizi. Business and Economics Research Journal, 8(3), 501-517.

Ozdora-Aksak, E. and Atakan-Duman, S. 2016. How A Turkish Bank Uses Corporate Social Responsibility to Construct Its Identity? A Case Study. Istanbul University Faculty of Communication Journal, 1(50): 73-88. doi: 17064/iüifhd.50861

Ozdora‐Aksak, E. and Atakan‐Duman, S. 2014. Türkiye’de Telekomünikasyon Sektöründe Internet Üzerinden Örgütsel Kimlik İnşasında Kurumsal Sosyal Sorumluluğun Rolü, Gazi Üniversitesi İletişim Kuram ve Araştırma Dergisi, 38, 133-148.

 

CONFERENCES & PROCEEDINGS

Kiliç N.P., Dikmen, E. Ş., & Özdora Akşak, E. (May 27, 2021). Pandemi Döneminde T.C. Sağlik Bakanliği Dijital İletişim Pratikleri. Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication 8th International Communications Day: Crisis Communication in the Digital Age, Istanbul Turkey. May 26-28, 2021. Dimitrova, D., & Ozdora Aksak, E. (April 22, 2021). Differences in Communication Strategies between Bulgarian and Turkish Migration CSOs. Presented in What do we say to migrants throughout their journey? Workshop organized by Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium, April 22-23, 2021. Emel Özdora-Aksak and Colleen Kennedy-Karpat. 2020. “Strengthening NGO advocacy and digital communication capacities for marginalized groups through communication education and integrated curricula” (pp 402-405) published in the Proceeding Book of the Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication 7th International Communication Days – Communications Education in the Digital Age, Istanbul, Turkey, 21-23 October, 2020. Ozdora Aksak, E.  & Dimitrova, D. 2020. “Humanitarian Organizations in Turkey: Access, Communication and Impact” presented at panel on “A Toolkit for Researching Migration: Challenges and Opportunities in Studying Refugees/Asylum Seekers/Forced Migrants,” Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Conference, San Francisco, USA, 6-9 August 2020. Ozdora Aksak, E., Dikmen, Ş., & Ince, L. Y. 2019. Oyun Çalışmalarında Yönelimler: Kuramsal Bakış Açıları, Yazının Gelişimi ve İletişim Teknolojilerinin Rolü. Yeni Medya Kongresi, Izmir, Turkey, 4-5 October 2019. Dal, A. & Ozdora Aksak, E. 2019. Dijital Temsil Eşitsizliğine Direnmek Mümkün mü? Mülteci, Sığınmacı ve Göçmenleri Destekleyen Kuruluşların Türkiye’deki Sosyal Ağ Kullanımı. Yeni Medya Kongresi, Izmir, Turkey, 4-5 October 2019. Ozdora-Aksak, E., Dimitrova, D., & Connolly-Ahern, C. Victims or Intruders? Refugee Portrayals in the News in Turkey and Bulgaria. International Association of Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Annual Conference, 7-11 July, 2019, Madrid, SPAIN. Ozdora Aksak, E. 2019. Discursive Construction of Syrian Refugees to Shape International Public Opinion: The Case of Turkey. 69th Annual International Communication Association (ICA) Conference, May 24-28, 2019, Washington D.C., USA. Alakoc, B. P., & Ozdora-Aksak, E. 2019. Media Framing of Terrorism as Public Diplomacy. 77th Annual Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) Conference, April 4-7, 2019, Chicago, IL, USA. Altun, Ipek and Ozdora-Aksak, Emel. 2018. Sponsorlu İçerik Marka İtibarını Kurtarabilir mi: Türkiye’deki Teknoloji ve Telekomünikasyon Endüstrisinden Bir Vaka Arastirmasi. CIDA / Uluslararası Dijital Çağda İletişim Sempozyumu, 18-19 October, Mersin University, Mersin, TURKEY. Connolly-Ahern, C., Dimitrova, D. and Ozdora-Akşak, E. 2016. Framing a Humanitarian Crisis: Content Analysis of Refugee Coverage from Five European Nations. International Communication Section at the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Conference 27-31 July 2016, Leicester, UK. Dimitrova, D. and Ozdora-Akşak, E. 2015. On the Border of the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Views from Two Different Cultural Perspectives Turkey and Bulgaria. National Communication Association (NCA) 101th Annual Convention 19-22 November 2015, Las Vegas, USA. Ozdora-Aksak, E. and Atakan-Duman, S. 2015. Establishing Legitimacy Through Corporate Social Responsibility: Identity Construction in Turkish Banks. Vol. 1, 51-55. 15th EBES Conference Lisbon, PORTUGAL. Atakan-Duman, S. and Ozdora-Aksak, E. 2015. How do Turkish Banks Construct their Identities: A Thematic Analysis. 820-825. INTCESS15-International Conference on Education and Social Sciences, 2-4 February 2015, Istanbul, Turkey. ISBN: 978-605-64453-2-3. Paşamehmetoğlu, A., Ozdora-Aksak, E. and Atakan-Duman, S. 2014. CSR as a strategic tool for gaining legitimacy: Mapping CSR activities among Turkey’s Largest Corporations. World Business and Social Science Research Conference, 14-16 April 2014, Paris, FRANCE. Ozdora-Aksak, E. and Atakan-Duman, S. 2014. Online Identity Construction in Turkey’s Banking Sector: The Contribution of Corporate Social Responsibility. The 64th International Communication Association (ICA) Annual Conference, 22-26 May 2014, Seattle, USA.

RESEARCH PROJECTS & GRANTS

Researcher. Dikmen, Ergin Şafak, and Abdulrezak Altun, Emel Özdora Akşak, Nilüfer Pınar Kılıç (2020). Pandemi Döneminde Dijital İletişim Stratejileri: TC Sağlık Bakanlığı Örneği. (Digital Communication Strategies During the Pandemic Period: The Case of the Turkish Ministry of Health) T.C. Ankara Üniversitesi Rektörlüğü Bilimsel Araştırma Projesi.  Budget: 14.999 TL   Researcher. Ozdora Akşak, Emel and Daniela Dimitrova (Prof. at Iowa State University). “The Role of Media Discourse and NGO Advocacy for Marginalized Populations: Fostering Social Change and Integration,” Arthur Page Center for Integrity in Public Communications at Penn State University – Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar grant for Advocacy Communication. Budget: US$3000   Researcher. Connolly-Ahern, Colleen (Prof. at Penn State), Ozdora Akşak, Emel and Daniela Dimitrova (Prof. at Iowa State University). On the Border of the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Views from Two Different Cultural Perspectives Turkey and Bulgaria. Arthur Page Center for Ethics in Public Communication ‐ Refugee Communication Project. Budget: US$3000		24.4.2020-24.8.2020     2019-2020       2014-2018
Researcher. Atakan Duman, Şirin and Ozdora Akşak, Emel. The Contribution of Corporate Social Responsibility Activities on Organizational Identity: An Analysis of Turkey’s Banking Sector.” (Kurumsal Sosyal Sorumluluk Faaliyetlerinin Örgütsel Kimliğe Katkısı: Türkiye Bankacılık Sektörüne Yönelik Bir Araştırma,) TUBİTAK 3001 Research Project, Project no: 114K096, 15 October 2014-15 April 2015 (6 months) Budget: 16,960 TL		2014-2015

RESEARCH &TRAVEL GRANTS

T.C. Ankara University Scientific Research Project (2020)                                 14.999 TL

Arthur Page Society – Advocacy Communication Research Grant (2019)      3000 US Dollars

ICA Annual Conference Grant (2019)                                                                    300 US Dollars

TÜBİTAK 2224-A BİDEB Academic Conference Participation Grant (2019)     1400 US Dollars

Arthur Page Society Refugee Communication Project Research Grant (2014)  3000 US Dollars

TUBITAK 3001 Research Project Grant (2014-2015)                                           16,960 TL

ICA Annual Conference Travel Grant (2014)                                                        250 US Dollars

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Instructor and Assistant Professor

Bilkent University, Department of Communication and Design.

Courses Taught:

COMD 204 – Media Studies II

COMD 290 – Summer Practice I

COMD 341 – Media and Society

COMD 346 – Introduction to Advertising

COMD 358 – Professional Communication

COMD 439 – International Public Relations

COMD 461 – Public Relations and Communication Campaigns

COMD 462 – Special topics in Advertising

COMD 481 – Visual Communication Project I

COMD 482 – Visual Communication Project II

COMD 511 – Research Methods (Graduate Level)

FA 171 – Art and Culture I

FA 172 – Art and Culture II

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITES & PARTNERSHIPS

Emel Ozdora Aksak & Nur Uysal (2021) De Paul University – The Global Learning Experience (GLE) Program application for organizing a course in the Spring 2021 Semester. The Global Learning Experience (GLE) Program is a virtual exchange program aimed at supporting instructors to structure collaborative international learning experiences, facilitated by technology, between students from international institutions.

INVITED TALKS

• Ozdora Aksak, E., & Uysal, N. (March 23, 2021). CSR in times of COVID-19. Invited to give a talk during the Global Responsibility Week event hosted by Nottingham Business School (March 23-25, 2021), Nottingham Trent University, UK.
• Ozdora Aksak, E., & Uysal, N. (April, 12, 2021). The Impacts of COVID-19 on Corporate Social Responsibility Programs around the World. Invited to give a talk during the DePaul University – Global Conversations Event (April 12, 2021), Chicago, USA.
• Research Workflow Management for Paper Based Projects for the graduating class of 2019 Visual Communication Project courses, October 10, 2018.
• “TUBITAK funds available and applying for TUBITAK funding,” 5 December 2018, FADA Research Series.
• “Terror in Turkey and the Role of Public Diplomacy,” 6 March 2019, International Relations and   Political Science Department – Ankara Research Kitchen Seminar series.
• “Migration Issue and Refugees,” 25 March 2019, METU AEGEE (Association des États Généraux des Étudiants de l’Europe), panelist.
• “Civil Society and Syrian Refugees in Turkey,” 15 October 2019, International Relations and Political Science Department – Ankara Research Kitchen Presentation series.
• Research Workflow Management for Paper Based Projects for the graduating class of 2020 Visual Communication Project courses, October 22, 2019.
• “Syrian refugees related Civil Society, NGOs and Advocacy in Turkey,” 20 November 2019, FADA Research Series.

M.A. THESES ADVISED

• Şevval Kantarcı, Parents’ Consciousness of Their Children’s Media Consumption Habits, Spring 2021
• Murat Can Becerir, How Technology Conglomerates Utilize Organizational Communication Strategies and the Media’s Portrayal of their Corporate Identities: A Comparative Analysis, Fall 2020
• Melisa Şaşmaz, Intertextuality in Turkish TV Advertising: Use of Popular Songs, Summer 2020
• Aslı Şahin, Analyzing, Experience, Satisfaction And Motivation Level Of Visitors: A Case Study Of Cer Modern Art Center, Summer 2020
• Erdem Akın Temel, Social TV Ratings: A Multi-Case Analysis from Turkish Television Industry, Spring 2016 (co-advisor)
• İpek Altun, Sponsored Content as a Two-Edged Sword: Determinants of Credibility and Trustability, Fall 2016 (co-advisor)

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS

• Ebru Akçay, Doctoral dissertation committee member, Halkla İlişkilere Toplumsal Yaklaşim: Kadina Yönelik Şiddet Karşiti Dijital Kampanyalar Üzerine Bir İnceleme, Ankara Üniversitesi, July 2020
• Hande Işık Tosun, Doctoral dissertation committee member, Piramidin Tabanındaki Ülkeler için Kurumsal Ürün Geliştirme Süreçleri, Middle Eastern Technical University, January 2020.
• Sinem UTANIR ALTAY, Doctoral dissertation committee member, Dijital Çağda Çocuk Hakları: İletişim Kampanyaları Üzerine Bir İnceleme, Ankara University, Fall 2019

SERVICE FOR THE DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY & SOCIETY

• Elected member of the FADA Fakülte Kurulu – Yardımcı Doçent üyesi – September 2019
• Summer Internship Coordinator for COMD 290, Fall 2018- ongoing.
• Academic Research Coordinator for COMD, Fall 2018 – ongoing.
• Committee member in various Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Committees in METU and Ankara University
• Workshop on Project Workflow Management for Research Paper Based Projects for the graduating class of 2019 Visual Communication Project courses, ongoing.
• Member of the FADA Dean’s Fund Committee: worked on the planning of the Fund’s usage areas and processes. Also actively participated in the Committee decisions to grant funds to FADA academic staff, Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 Semesters.
• Participated in the Faculty Distinguished Teaching Awards Commission, coordinated the application process for Bulent Capli from COMD, Spring 2017 Semester.
• Led the restructuring of the department’s internship program and coordinated the efforts for the implementation of the changes, Fall 2016 & Spring 2017 Semesters.

 

MASS MEDIA QUOTES & APPEARANCES

• Vatandaşlık ve geçici koruma statüsü arasında Suriyeliler. (March, 12, 2021). Haber Global. https://haberglobal.com.tr/gundem/suriyeli-multeciler-yine-gundemde-98372
• Kaderleri kağıt üzerindeki anlaşmalarla çiziliyor… 3. bir ülkeye gönderilmeleri İngiltere’nin gündeminde. (March 22, 2021). Haber Global. https://haberglobal.com.tr/gundem/kaderleri-kagit-uzerindeki-anlasmalarla-ciziliyor-milyonlarca-multeci-nerede-yasayacak-100094/amp

REFEREEING

• ·Public Relations Review; International Journal of Communication; Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly
• Business Ethics: A European Review; Journal of Management & Organization;
• Turkish Studies; International Migration; The International Journal of Press/Politics; International Migration Review; Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies
• Ankara University İLEF Dergisi; Marmara Siyasal Bilimler Dergisi
• International Communication Association Annual Conference Public Relations Division since 2017
• Scientific committee member of the New Media Congress (Yeni Medya Kongresi) October 2019

ACADEMIC HONORS & AWARDS

Received Associate Professor title from the Turkish Republic Higher Education Board (YÖK). Outstanding International Student Award. University of Florida, Gainesville Florida, USA.

2016   2008

 

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY

·       Member, Okuma Kültürü Derneği (Reading Culture Association) ·       Voluntary Communication Consultant, Development Workshop NGO – Individuals Supporting Development Project – Communication Campaign Development Support		Ongoing 2014-2016
·       Voluntary Communication Consultant, Development Workshop NGO –Combatting Child Labor in Seasonal Migrational Workers Project (financial support from the Embassy of Netherlands) – Communication Campaign Development Support		2013-2014

 

CAREER BREAKS

• Maternity leave, November 2015 – March 2016 (4 months)
• Maternity leave + unpaid leave, May 2017 – September 2018 (16 months)