Turkish & Ottoman Studies Program | Near Eastern Languages & Civilization | University of Washington
Turkey in Seattle : an Oral History Project
Tülin grew up in Ankara and moved to the US in 1964 after being sponsored by an American family living in Seattle. She earned her Bachelor’s from the University of Washington in 1966 and continued on to earn her Master’s from Western Washington University and her PHD from the University of Washington. Although she intended to move back to Turkey, she stayed in the US, became a US citizen, and married her husband Vedat in 1969. Tülin has been highly involved in the Turkish American community and worked for the Turkish American Cultural Association Board in the 1980s to 1990s. She has been working as a school psychologist in both the Bellevue School District and Everett School District and has two children. She raised both children using Turkish, but spoke more English around them as they grew older. She tries to maintain her Turkish language use but feels more comfortable speaking English. She emphasizes an allegiance to her Turkish heritage and a strong participation and engagement in life.