Thinking meets doing at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
The only city spanning two continents, Istanbul is a place of unparalleled historical significance. Once the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, it remains a major hub for global trade, international diplomacy, and the arts. A melting pot of cultures dotted with architectural masterpieces, Istanbul’s history and unique geopolitical position make it an exceptional place for faculty research, student learning, and engagement with the urgent questions of our time.
Located in a historic building in Istanbul’s central Taksim district, the Columbia Global Center offers easy access to every corner of the vast city, including to its more than 50 universities, varied multilateral organizations, and NGOs. Istanbul is an ideal site for convening regional stakeholders for knowledge exchange, dialogue, and the development of solutions to shared challenges, and the Global Center — with its deep connections throughout Türkiye and the region — can make sure the right people are at the table.
After earthquakes devastated parts of Türkiye in early 2023, the Center got to work connecting Columbia faculty, students, and local partners who, together, are responding to the crisis. These collaborations have since flourished, advancing the way we provide therapy for disaster survivors, co-creating new urban risk management approaches, and more.
İpek Cem Taha is a Turkish businesswoman, journalist, and an active board member of leading Turkish and international organizations. She is the Founding Director of Columbia Global Center Istanbul and has worked with the center since its inception in 2011. The Center’s goal is to build collaborative programs and projects that link Columbia University to Turkey, and connect the Istanbul Center to the eight other Global Centers worldwide. İpek’s mandates include programming issues such as education, sustainability, peace and conflict resolution, women’s empowerment, social entrepreneurship, and public health, as well as work on the history, culture and future of cities, and specifically that of Istanbul. After graduating from Robert College of Istanbul, İpek received her B.A. degree with Honors in Political Science from Amherst College. In addition, she holds an M.B.A. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and an M.I.A. from the Columbia University Graduate School of International and Public Affairs.
