Sedef Akinli Kocak Ph.D.

Sedef Akinli Kocak, PhD, MBA has a diverse work experience in various roles and industries. Sedef is currently the Director of Professional Development at the Vector Institute, where they have also served as a Senior Project Manager and Acting Lead for Professional Development. Prior to that, they worked as a Project Manager for Applied AI Projects at the same organization.

In addition to their work at the Vector Institute, Sedef has also worked as an AI Advisor at Responsibli. Sedef has been involved in academia as well, serving as a Senior Lecturer and Supervisor at Ryerson University. During their time at Ryerson, they also worked as a Graduate Research Assistant and a Doctoral Researcher.

Sedef has also been a Research Fellow at the University of Toronto and an Industry Academic R&D Project Developer at the SOSCIP Consortium. Sedef has taught as a Lecturer at the University of Toronto, focusing on special topics in the environment and energy.

Earlier in their career, Sedef worked as a Data and Research Specialist at the Turkish Information and Communication Authority and as a Project Specialist at the Privatization Administration.

Overall, Sedef Akinli Kocak, PhD, MBA has a strong background in project management, AI, and academia, with experience in both industry and academic settings.

Sedef Akinli Kocak, PhD, MBA has an extensive educational background. Sedef began their academic journey in 1993, graduating from Ankara University with a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Chemical Engineering. Sedef then pursued further education and obtained an MBA degree from Ankara University in 2001, specializing in Management and Organization.

In 1999, Sedef enrolled at the University of Maine, where they earned a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Chemical Engineering in 2001. Following their master's degree, they returned to Ryerson University in 2012, where they embarked on a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Environmental Applied Science and Management. Sedef'sPhD, focused on data science and analytics, was completed in 2017.

To complement their academic qualifications, Sedef has sought additional certifications throughout their career. In 2014, they obtained the SEDA-UK Professional Development in Teaching certificate from SEDA-Staff and Educational Development Association. The same year, they also completed the Ryerson University Professional Development in Teaching Certificate. In 2015, they participated in the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) at Ryerson University. In 2020, Sedef completed the Teaching Adult Learners Online (TALO) program at Ryerson University, further enhancing their teaching skills.

Continuing their pursuit of educational enrichment, Sedef received an Executive Business Certificate in Business Design Thinking from the University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management in 2022. Sedef also expanded their knowledge in computer and information sciences and support services by earning an Executive Certificate from MIT Professional Education in 2023.

In addition to their formal academic degrees and certificates, Sedef has also obtained various other certifications, including Designing and Building AI Products and Services from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2023. Sedef completed the European Union Negotiation Techniques program at the European Union Research Center, Ankara University in 2007, and the European Union Law Studies and Translation Techniques program in 2004 from the same institution. Additionally, they received Advanced Excel Training from Skills for Change in 2011.

Overall, Sedef Akinli Kocak, PhD, MBA has a diverse and extensive educational background, encompassing chemical engineering, management and organization, environmental applied science and management, data science and analytics, and various professional development and certification programs.