Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Rector’s Office Coordinator and Faculty of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering academic staff member Prof. Dr. Tolga Çelik has been appointed as the Secretary General of the Türkiye Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), one of the world’s oldest and most respected professional organizations in the field of civil engineering.
As part of the appointment process for the position of Secretary General of the ASCE Türkiye Section, Prof. Dr. Çelik’s name was submitted to ASCE Global Programs, headquartered in the United States, by Türkiye Section President Dr. Abiola Ayopo Abiodun. Following a process of meetings, evaluation and consultation with Brenda Puch, Manager of ASCE Global Programs Region 10 Sections & Branches, Prof. Dr. Çelik received an official invitation to assume the position of Secretary General of the Türkiye Section. Prof. Dr. Çelik accepted the invitation and officially assumed the role.
The fact that ASCE Türkiye Section President Dr. Abiola Ayopo Abiodun completed both his master’s degree in 2013 and his PhD in 2020 at the EMU Department of Civil Engineering adds particular significance to the appointment from EMU’s perspective. With Dr. Abiodun serving as President and Prof. Dr. Tolga Çelik as Secretary General, EMU now has strong representation at the highest levels of the ASCE Türkiye Section leadership. EMU is therefore represented in the senior management of ASCE Türkiye by both an alumnus and a member of its academic staff.
Founded in 1852, ASCE operates on a global scale in the areas of engineering standards, scientific and technical publications, conferences, professional development activities and student organizations, with more than 160,000 members and a network spanning 177 countries. ASCE’s structure outside North America, known as Global Region 10, covers 174 countries and includes 30 officially recognized country-level Sections. In Europe, Türkiye is among the countries with an official ASCE Section, alongside the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Greece.
Having operated with International Group status since 2006, ASCE Türkiye officially gained Section status on 15 January 2025. During the new administrative term, the Türkiye Section aims to further strengthen its ties with international professional networks.
Prof. Dr. Çelik stated that one of the main objectives for the new term is to transform ASCE’s global knowledge base and professional network into tangible benefits for EMU, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the engineering community in Türkiye. Within this framework, plans include developing joint projects, technical events, professional development activities and international symposia in cooperation with professional organizations in the TRNC, particularly the Chamber of Civil Engineers under the Union of the Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects (KTMMOB), as well as relevant chambers, universities, public institutions and industry representatives in Türkiye.
Among the objectives for the coming period are also the establishment of new academic and professional links with the 30 country-level Sections operating under ASCE Global Region 10, the organization of joint international activities and symposia, bringing experts from different countries together with EMU and the wider region, and further enhancing the University’s visibility within the international engineering community. Supporting students’ access to ASCE’s international network and encouraging Student Chapter activities also constitute an important part of this vision.
Throughout an academic career spanning approximately 11 years, Prof. Dr. Tolga Çelik has successfully supervised 25 master’s and 3 doctoral students to graduation. He has also been invited to serve on numerous master’s and doctoral thesis committees and to contribute to academic evaluation processes at various universities in Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Prof. Dr. Çelik has authored more than 14 academic publications in internationally indexed scientific journals and continues his research activities in collaboration with various research groups. He is currently supervising six master’s and doctoral students and conducting research aimed at contributing to the international scientific literature.
Prof. Dr. Çelik has continued to pursue his academic work alongside active engagement in industry and international professional activities. In the fields of Project and Construction Management, BIM, digital transformation and innovative construction practices, he has undertaken various roles and responsibilities in national and international engineering projects, project management, business development and international initiatives. In addition to serving as Coordinator at the EMU Rector’s Office, Prof. Dr. Çelik is also a member of the EMU Technopark Executive Board. Since 2019, he has served as Director of International Relations at BIM4TÜRKİYE, where he has been involved in developing international collaborations and strengthening global connections. With 20,000 members and more than 700 supporting institutions, BIM4TÜRKİYE brings together stakeholders from industry, academia, the public sector and technology within a broad professional ecosystem.
Prof. Dr. Çelik is the youngest civil engineer in the history of the TRNC and Türkiye to attain the title of professor in the field of Construction Management within a Department of Civil Engineering. His academic and postgraduate background, industry and project management experience, work in innovation, involvement in international projects, and long-standing engagement in international relations and business development constitute the professional experience that distinguished him during the evaluation process for the position of Secretary General of the ASCE Türkiye Section.
EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç congratulated Prof. Dr. Tolga Çelik on his new appointment and stated that the involvement of EMU academics and alumni in the leadership of international professional organizations reflects the University’s accumulated expertise in education and research on the international stage. Prof. Dr. Kılıç added that it is a source of pride to see an EMU graduate and an EMU academic serving together in the leadership of the ASCE Türkiye Section, and emphasized his belief that this representation will contribute to the development of new academic and professional collaborations.
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