The Keyman family advances the study of modern Turkey and innovative research through their philanthropy
On the surface, the study of modern Turkey and the use of synthetic biology to develop agricultural technology have seemingly little in common. At Northwestern University, however, both are areas that have seen significant advances in recent years. And that success shares one common denominator between these two disparate fields: the philanthropic support of University Trustee Melih Keyman and Zeynep Keyman (’07 P), and their family.
For Melih Keyman, his connection to these two areas—and to Northwestern—is deeply personal. Though he has lived in Switzerland for the past four decades, Keyman maintains strong ties to his native country of Turkey. Professionally, he has become a leader in the fertilizer industry and is inspired by synthetic biology’s potential to transform modern agriculture to alleviate food insecurity. At Northwestern, he and his family have found an ideal institution to invest in both of these passions.
“This University has so many strengths across a wide range of disciplines,” Keyman says. “It is a place where the best minds come together to advance research and scholarship, and investing in that work allows for incredible breakthroughs and groundbreaking discoveries.”
Keyman’s ties to Northwestern originated when his son, Ahmet Keyman ’07, ’12 MBA, enrolled as an undergraduate in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. After earning his bachelor’s degree in economics, Ahmet went on to receive a master’s degree from the Kellogg School of Management in 2012.
That same year, Melih Keyman was invited to join Northwestern’s Board of Trustees, bringing a global perspective to the Board and serving as the University’s first international trustee. He has also notably served as the former chair of both Northwestern’s International Campaign Committee and the Global Philanthropic Advisory Council. His wife, Zeynep, served as a member of the Block Museum’s Board of Advisors, and together they have been instrumental leaders in strengthening the University’s connections with international alumni.
Advancing Scholarship on Modern Turkey
In 2004, Keyman began discussions with then-University President Henry Bienen around the idea of making a gift to support scholarship on modern Turkey at Northwestern. The following year, a philanthropic commitment from the Keyman family led to the launch of the Keyman Modern Turkish Studies Program.
The program is unique in its singular, comprehensive focus on present-day Turkey and its diasporas, combined with an innovative, balanced, and multi-disciplinary platform to study the significant issues surrounding this country. By focusing exclusively on this area rather than embedding it within a larger offering, the Keyman Program has taken a distinctive approach.
The program’s success has inspired research; attracted a wide variety of scholars of Turkey, practitioners, and artists to Northwestern; supported events and programming; and encouraged student and faculty travel to Turkey. It boasts a highly prestigious postdoctoral fellowship program, which has drawn emerging scholars in modern Turkish studies to the University, and the program spans both social science research and the study of contemporary Turkish art and culture.
Since 2019, these efforts have significantly grown under the leadership of director İpek Kocaömer Yosmaoğlu, the Crown Professor of Middle East Studies in the Department of History. Yosmaoğlu, a tenured faculty member and highly regarded scholar in her field, has brought added visibility to the program and helped to build partnerships with institutions in Istanbul and around the world.
“We are so grateful for the generous support of Melih, Zeynep, and the Keyman family, which has allowed Northwestern to establish itself as a global hub of Turkish studies that broke the mold of politics and international relations-dominant area studies programs, highlighting the vibrant work of emerging scholars in several fields of humanities, social sciences, literary and cultural studies, and the arts” Yosmaoğlu says. “Their continued and unwavering support has helped us build a global community of exceptionally creative and talented people, promote the exchange of ideas, and foster intellectual growth—increasing awareness and understanding of contemporary Turkey.”
Seeing the program gain prominence has been a great point of pride for the Keyman family. The program has established meaningful partnerships with leading universities worldwide, as well as with departments and academic units across Northwestern, enhancing its global reach and interdisciplinary engagement.
In support of its continued growth, the family recently made an additional multi-million-dollar commitment to further strengthen the Modern Turkish Studies program’s endowment, ensuring its enduring impact at Northwestern and beyond.
One of the program’s notable collaborations has been with Northwestern University Libraries. Over the last decade, the Keyman Turkish Studies Library Fund has enabled the Libraries to grow its modern Turkish collection from less than 200 volumes to more than 5,000. This collection makes a significant contribution to advancing Turkish scholarship at Northwestern. It serves as a valuable resource for students and scholars alike while also enriching courses, seminars, lectures, and a wide range of academic programming.
Driving Innovation in Agricultural Technology
Keyman also recognized a unique opportunity to partner with Northwestern’s Center for Synthetic Biology (CSB). Having spent his entire career in the fertilizer industry, he saw the potential for synthetic biology to create more efficient and effective approaches to farming that could be a gamechanger in crop production.
CSB was already developing cutting-edge innovations with far-reaching applications but had not yet deeply invested in agricultural research. A philanthropic gift from the Keyman family served as a catalyst to contextualize the research and drive discoveries toward applications that can have the greatest global impact in increasing crop yields.
“Melih and Zeynep’s gift really created a whole new community of CSB researchers focused on agriculture,” says center co-director Julius Lucks, the Margery Claire Carlson Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering. “This is one of the most important applications for the type of work we do in synthetic biology, and thanks to the Keyman family’s support we are making great advances in agriculture technologies. This could be the beginning of something really big for Northwestern in this space.”
Keyman’s philanthropy has allowed CSB to bring together a team of researchers to work on fertilizer technologies that could reduce reliance on chemical fertilizer. This sense-and-response approach involves developing a hybrid synthetic biology-materials science system that can sense signals from crops and soils and then trigger the release of fertilizer compounds. While in its early stages, the research shows potential to reduce pollution, save energy, and ultimately decrease global food shortages by increasing agricultural productivity.
“I strongly believe that the innovative work being done at the Center for Synthetic Biology can profoundly reduce world hunger,” Keyman says. “This is what I love about Northwestern—from developing more informed global citizens to inventing lifechanging technologies, the University is constantly working toward making the world a better place.”