Alumni Profile: Nebi Celik, Evening Master's Program’24

Nebi Celik is currently serving a three-year term as Vice Consul at the Turkish Consulate General in Chicago. "After I earned my degree in International Relations from Bilkent University in Turkey, I worked in the private sector for several years. Then I took the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recruitment exams and began working as a foreign service officer at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara. When my term in Chicago ends, I will transfer somewhere else—perhaps back to Ankara or wherever the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs determines I will be most useful."

While in the United States, Celik’s desire to learn about and improve the inner workings of government via public policy led him to consider a graduate degree. “There are many opportunities to improve the functioning of the Ministry. For example, I was first assigned to the Human Resources Department of the Ministry, where I had the opportunity to monitor the government processes closely. That experience made me curious as to how the development of human resources can increase policy capacity. I began to wonder about pursuing a graduate degree to help me contribute to the public policy department within the Ministry and also further my career."

Celik said his search for graduate programs didn't take much time. "The University of Chicago's reputation was a key factor: it's one of the best schools in the world. When combined with the flexibility of the Evening Master's Program (EMP)—that was all I needed to apply."

Given his work at the Consulate General, Celik said he appreciated the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy’s rigor and data-driven emphasis. "Although I had fairly strong analytical and mathematical skills, I acquired additional important tools to help me assess developments in our area of duty and the efficiency of consular services we provide for our citizens.” Celik continued, “This way, I was able to draft more comprehensive reports and convey my views on performance more clearly, which enhanced my communication with our staff.”

However, Celik’s full-time position as Vice Consul did present him with some obstacles—especially as he would often need to travel for work. "Luckily, my bosses were quite understanding and flexible about my return to school, and my professors were also very understanding about my work schedule."

As for Celik's future plans, he said he hopes to continue working in executive departments within the Ministry and "be capable of presenting new ideas that facilitate the implementation of policies to respond more swiftly and accurately to issues."

For those considering the EMP, Celik said, "It’s a great program at one of the best universities, and it's perfect for working professionals because of the flexibility and course scheduling. It's a great opportunity.”