Turkish Consul General to Chicago visits UIS

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will host the Honorable Fatih Yildiz, Consul General of the Republic of Turkey to Chicago, who will discuss the relationship between the U.S and Turkey and other issues facing his country.

WHEN: Friday, April 5, 2013 from 2 to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Yildiz will speak from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Diversity Center, located in the UIS Student Life Building, Room 22, as part of a soup and conversation event. Following that presentation, a reception in his honor will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. in the UIS Public Affairs Center 3rd floor atrium lounge. During the reception, Yildiz will present a political overview of Turkish and U.S. relations. Welcoming remarks will be delivered by UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch. Both programs are free and open to the public.

DETAILS: Yildiz has a strong background in foreign relations and civil service stretching back nearly two decades. He was appointed Consul General of the Republic of Turkey to Chicago in September 2010. Prior to his accepting this position, Yildiz had been a part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) since 1994, serving in various capacities. After serving two years in military service, Yildiz began his career in the MFA at the Department for Balkans as an Attaché and later at the Turkish Embassy in Sarajevo. He later moved on to serve as Second Secretary and First Secretary at the Cabinet of the Undersecretary of the MFA for two years before serving as First Secretary and Counselor at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. for four years. Most recently, he worked as the Director of the Department of Human Resources at the MFA from 2008-2010.

For more information, contact Jeannie Capranica, UIS Diversity Center Program Manager, at 217/206-6584 or jjone1@uis.edu.