Networking Program | Psychology

Ayşe I. Carden Networking Program for Student Fellows and Alums

Dr. Ayşe Ilgaz Carden ’66, Professor of Psychology, was a champion for women's achievement, childhood development, and cross-cultural understanding.

She dedicated much of her career as an educator to students at Agnes Scott College. "Ayse loved her students and her life as a professor," said Agnes Scott President Mary Brown Bullock, a 1966 Agnes Scott graduate. "She was an eloquent witness to the power of teaching."

Carden focused her significant expertise and research on the societal, professional, familial, and cultural forces that affect women as they pursue their education and life goals. She also sparked the education of hundreds of students while earning the respect of her peers.

Amy Hutchinson, a pediatric ophthalmologist and professor at Emory University, studied under Carden while earning her bachelor's degree in psychology at Agnes Scott in 1986. "Of all the professors I had, she probably made the greatest impact on me," Hutchinson said, "She had an incredible passion for what she did. "Her impact on me was in the area of social psychology, and it affected the way I live my life and practice medicine today," she said. "Now I'm an educator, and I try to be as dynamic as she was. She was a tremendous inspiration."

A native of Istanbul, Carden graduated from the American College for Girls and then earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at Agnes Scott in 1966.

She went on to study at Emory University, where she earned a master's degree in 1970 and doctorate in 1971, both in educational/developmental psychology.

She then returned to her native Turkey, where she served as Dean of Women and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Bosphorus University in Istanbul.

In 1978, she returned to the United States to join the faculty at Agnes Scott and dedicated the next 25 years to teaching there until her untimely death in 2003.

While demanding the highest standards of performance from her students, she was always warm, gentle, and accepting. She loved working with all students, but especially championed international students, students of color, first-generation students, and students who identified as LGBTQ+.

She presented papers throughout her career at national and international conferences and often attended conferences with her students. Her writing explored findings generated through her research on childcare, homesickness, and cross-cultural education.

Carden led numerous study-abroad trips during her tenure at Agnes Scott, to destinations including China, Japan, and Turkey. She enjoyed playing the role of a bridge between the cultures of the East and West.

Finally, she strongly believed that current Scotties should interact and develop relationships with alums. This program was developed to honor her and to provide these connections.

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The main goal of the program is to connect current students with alums based on career interests and to document the history of Psychology and Neuroscience at Agnes Scott. Each year 15-20 psychology/neuroscience majors are selected and named Ayşe I. Carden Alumnae Global Leadership Network Fellows, and they are paired with alum mentors. The students and alums attend program events such as dinners, lunches, and brunches during the spring semester. They also share about their time at Agnes Scott through interviews and surveys.

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Speeches by the Program Coordinators for the 2025 Cohort

Evelyn Patricio ‘26:

It’s a deep honor to stand here and speak about a program that carries not only a name—but a legacy. The Ayşe Carden Mentoring Program isn’t just a title; it’s a reflection of the spirit of one of Agnes Scott’s most beloved professors. A woman whose influence ripples through this room, even today.

Dr. Ayşe Carden was a champion for students. A trailblazer in psychology. And above all else, she was a mentor. She believed that education was not just about information—it was about connection. She mentored across boundaries, bridging cultures, generations, and identities. She shaped minds, yes—but also hearts.

One of the people she mentored was Ruth Feicht, class of 1986. Ruth went on to build a career grounded in curiosity, courage, and care—just like Dr. Carden taught her. Ruth never forgot the impact her mentor had on her life. And thanks to her generosity and vision, the Ayşe Carden Mentoring Program was born—to honor that impact, and to pass it forward.

But the story doesn’t end there. Dr. Carden also mentored Dr. Jenny Hughes, who has gone on to mentor so many students—including many of the people sitting here today. It’s a beautiful reminder that mentorship at Agnes Scott is generational. There’s a throughline that connects us—student to professor, professor to student—a legacy built not just on knowledge, but on care, trust, and a deep commitment to helping others grow.

That’s what makes this program so special. It reminds us that mentorship is more than guidance—it’s generosity. It’s time, attention, and the willingness to see potential in someone else before they can see it in themselves.

Dr. Carden was known for her kindness. And I think that’s what we’re really celebrating today. At Agnes Scott, kindness is not treated like a small or soft thing. It’s treated like the powerful force it is—something that builds people, changes lives, and endures long after we leave.

The Ayşe Carden Mentoring Program is a living tribute to that belief. It reminds us that the greatest legacies are not measured by awards or titles—but by the people we lift up along the way.

So today, as we gather in a room full of mentors and mentees, of students and alumni, of those who have given and those just beginning to receive—I hope we all take a moment to feel proud. Because in honoring Ayşe, in continuing this work, we’re saying: kindness matters. Mentorship matters. And they always will at Agnes Scott.

Izzy Ley ‘26:

It’s hard to put into words what Agnes Scott means to those who’ve walked its halls—but thankfully, I don’t have to rely on just my own words. I’ve had the privilege of gathering reflections from our mentors here tonight, each of you offering something personal, thoughtful, and deeply moving about their time here. And when you look at them together: they form a portrait of a place that’s so much more than just a college.

There’s something about Agnes Scott that stays with you. It’s not just in the bold decisions or big milestones—it’s in the quiet, everyday moments that somehow become unforgettable.

Some might think college is defined by the classroom, but so much of what shapes us here happens outside it. It’s the hours spent curled up in a cushy chair in Bullock with your laptop, the casual waves to your professors as they pass by, and the way someone you know always seems to find the seat next to you. Over time, those little moments pile up until suddenly, it feels like home.

There’s a beautiful rhythm to life at Agnes that’s hard to describe but instantly recognizable to those who have learned it. It’s in the way the campus buzzes during traditions, in the way the community makes space for both growth and grace, and in the rare culture of closeness that feels like something you only truly appreciate when you're trying to say goodbye.

From your interviews, there was a common thread that kept showing up: this place gave them a sense of belonging, of being seen, of being stretched and supported all at once. Many reflected on how transformative it was to arrive here as someone just starting out—nervous, unsure, trying to figure out who they were—and to leave with lifelong friendships and a sense of self that couldn’t have been shaped anywhere else.

Agnes Scott holds this delicate balance of being both a launchpad and a landing place. It prepares you for what comes next while honoring where you’ve been. And even after we’ve left, it continues to shape the way we think, the way we lead, and the way we show up for others.

So today, whether you’re looking back on your years here or just beginning your journey, know that what you’re building matters. The small, seemingly ordinary moments will become your favorite stories. The people around you will become part of your life in ways you can’t predict. And one day, you’ll realize that this place didn’t just teach you—it changed you.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of that story. And thank you, Agnes Scott, for being a place that feels like home—no matter how long it’s been since we were last here.