I was born on January 30, 1988, on a day when the roads were closed by snow. I have always thought that my fondness for difficult things and my stubborn nature were somehow connected to the day I was born. As far back as I can remember, besides toys, there were two other things in my life: books and playing cards... I learned to read at a very early age and, apparently, to play poker when I was seven.
My primary education was somewhat turbulent: I changed schools many times, and they had me skip the third grade. As a result, I learned Roman numerals at university, and I still cannot claim to know much about intermediate colors. I completed high school at Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar High School, which at the time was known as a foreign-language-intensive high school (or, as people called it, a Super High School). I was deeply interested in mathematics and physics, but during those years I learned that the teachers who guide you are among the most important forces shaping your future. My admiration for my literature and history teachers led me to graduate from the humanities track.
In 2006, I entered Maltepe University's Department of Public Relations and Publicity on a full scholarship. When I became eligible to pursue a double major, my first dream was to study acting. After repeatedly hearing my mother say, "What will you do as an actor? There is so much unemployment in that field," I began a second major in psychology, a decision that would fundamentally shape my life. I graduated from both programs in 2011. Although academia had always been at the back of my mind, I found myself working in the private sector. For nearly two years, I served as both a psychologist and a corporate training sales manager at the same institution. I enjoyed my work, but the institution decided to close. My interest in academia was rekindled, and influenced by my professional experience, I began a master's degree in Sales and Marketing Management in the Department of Business Administration at Okan University. While pursuing my master's degree, I spent a year working in operations and corporate banking at a private bank. I realized that the profession was definitely not for me; to put it politely, it required viewing everyone, including the people you love, as a potential customer. By the time I completed my master's degree, I knew exactly what I wanted to do in the future. I realized that I was someone who loved learning and teaching, and an academic career became my sole goal. I began doctoral studies in Production Management and Marketing within the Department of Business Administration at Gebze Technical University. The mathematics of life told me, "You are not yet seasoned enough in the field of communication," and led me to leave my doctoral studies at Gebze Technical University (I later returned under an academic amnesty, and I am now pursuing both doctorates). I then began a new journey in the Department of Public Relations and Publicity at Istanbul University. I completed my doctorate with a multidisciplinary dissertation that brought together communication and psychology.
Throughout my doctoral education, I worked as a research assistant and lecturer at various institutions. In 2023, I joined the Department of Public Relations and Publicity at Üsküdar University as an Assistant Professor. While teaching theoretical knowledge, I have aimed to help my students develop versatile and critical perspectives. Despite teaching large classes, rather than viewing enrollment as a mere statistic, I have tried to get to know each student as a unique individual and contribute to their lives as much as I can. I continue to teach courses across different disciplines at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
I do not have many hobbies, or perhaps I do, but as we all know, the age we live in does not leave us much time. Because we are conditioned to consume constantly, we perform the role assigned to us within a system called capitalism, trading the time we possess for a concept called money under the name of production so that we can sustain the consumption imposed upon us. Spending time with my loved ones and my children (which is really a need, although today's shortage of time makes it more sensible to call it a hobby), playing digital games, and taking photographs make up my hobbies. I think listing reading as a hobby would be one of the saddest things an academic could do. It would be one of the clearest signs that you do not love your work: without reading, you cannot grow, and without growing, you cannot contribute. Let me close this unusually written About Me section in a more conventional manner. Özgün Arda Kuş is married and the father of four children (all four-legged), speaks English proficiently, and has completed more than 40 national and international training programs across various disciplines. He has been a member of the Turkish Psychological Association since 2011.