15.10.2025 19:30
The Rector of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Prof. Dr. Handan İnci Elçi, has passed away at the age of 61. In a message released by the university administration, they expressed, "We are deeply saddened." Elçi was the first female rector of the institution.
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Prof. Dr. Handan İnci Elçi, the Rector of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, has passed away. The university administration shared its deep sorrow in a message it published.
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE FROM THE UNIVERSITY
In a statement made by Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, it was stated, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our Rector, Prof. Dr. Handan İnci Elçi. We extend our condolences to her family, students, and loved ones."
SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY
Prof. Dr. Handan İnci Elçi, who was appointed as the rector of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on January 8, 2019, became the first female rector in the history of the institution.
Elçi's passing was met with great sorrow in the academic community.
YÖK PRESIDENT PUBLISHED A MESSAGE
The President of the Higher Education Council (YÖK), Erol Özvar, made a post on social media, stating, "I have learned of the passing of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Rector Handan İnci Elçi with deep sorrow. I pray for the deceased; I extend my condolences to her family, loved ones, and our higher education community."
WHO IS HANDAN İNCİ ELÇİ?
Prof. Dr. Handan İnci Elçi graduated from Istanbul University, Department of Turkish Language and Literature in 1986 and continued her academic career at the same university. She received her master's degree in 1988 with her thesis titled "Research on Literary Movements in Literary Magazines" under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Zeynep Kerman, and her doctorate in 1993 with her work "Father in the Turkish Novel of the Tanzimat Period."
Since 1993, Elçi has served as a faculty member in the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, focusing her studies on Turkish novels and Turkish novelists. She conducted research on important literary figures such as Ahmed Midhat Efendi, Beşir Fuad, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, Oğuz Atay, and Tomris Uyar.
HER TERM AS RECTOR
Appointed as the head of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at MSGSÜ on May 15, 2018, Prof. Dr. Handan İnci Elçi was appointed as the rector of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University by the decision of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on January 18, 2019, and earned the title of the university's first female rector.
Among Prof. Dr. Handan İnci Elçi's works are Şiir ve Hakikat (Beşir Fuad) – Yazılar ve Tartışmalar (1999), Menfa / Sürgün Hatıraları (Ahmed Midhat) (2002), Bir Gül Bu Karanlıklarda / Tanpınar Üzerine Yazılar (with Abdullah Uçman, 2002), Roman ve Mekân / Türk Romanında Ev (2003), Oğuz Atay'a Armağan – Türk Edebiyatının "Oyun/Bozan"ı (2007), Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar (with A. Uçman, 2010), Kitapla Direniş – Tomris Uyar (Yazılar/Söyleşiler) (2011), Dünyam (A. H. Tanpınar / illustrated biography) (2012), Orpheus'un Şarkısı / Tanpınar'ın Romanlarında Aşk ve Kadın (2014), and Ayfer Tunç'la Karanlıkta Kelimeler (2015).
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