Asli Akkaya, Ph.D.
As a linguistic and sociocultural anthropologist, Akkaya studies the intersections of morality, health, religion and politics through multidisciplinary methods.
As a linguistic and sociocultural anthropologist, Asli Akkaya, Ph.D. is passionate about exploring the complex ways in which moral subject formation, governmentality, bioethics and ethos intersect with broader structures of religion, health and politics. By employing a wide range of multidisciplinary methods—including qualitative and quantitative discourse analysis, natural language processing and big data tools—she aims to uncover patterns and insights that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries in her research. She enjoys teaching a variety of courses and aims to inspire students to think critically, reflect deeply and grow into informed citizens of both their local communities and the wider world.
Q&A with Asli Akkaya
Where did you grow up? Can you tell us a little about your educational journey?
I was born in Turkey. After graduating from B.S. in architecture with honors in 2022, I moved to the U.S. to pursue my masters and Ph.D. I received my M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL, 2005) from the Department of Linguistics and my Ph.D. in anthropology (2012) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. I was a postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Linguistics at Georgetown University from 2012-13.
When did you first fall in love with your field of study? What made you decide to work in academia?
I first fell in love with art, which led me to pursue a degree in architecture. Later, I came to realize that one of the most artistic things humans do is use language in creative and meaningful ways in their everyday lives. This realization shifted my focus toward languages and cultures, as I became fascinated by the unique ways people express themselves through language in daily life. I also grew increasingly interested in how human subjectivity is formed — how people perform and shape who they are by drawing from the rich, complex moral worlds around them.
Can you talk a little about your teaching philosophy? What do you most like about teaching?
Teaching is a powerful way to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives — not only by sharing knowledge, but also by learning from them in return. I believe that critical thinking and self-reflection are transformative skills that can truly change lives and help create a more just and compassionate world. Getting to know new students, learning from their perspectives, and growing together through shared experiences has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work.
What attracted you to VCU? What are you most excited about in regards to VCU and Richmond?
VCU, with its focus on innovative teaching and community engagement, fosters social impact through education. I also love its diverse student body. Richmond is a rich city in history, culture and activism. I love RVA's community spirit and art scenes.
Can you tell us either a quirky fact about yourself or some of your hobbies?
I’m passionate about learning, teaching and engaging in research. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing and coaching volleyball — it’s a fun way to stay active and build community. I'm also a cat lover and spend time fostering cats and supporting local pet rescue efforts. These parts of my life keep me grounded, bring me joy and remind me of the many ways we can care for and connect with others.