Selcuk R. Sirin, Ph.D., is a Professor of Applied Psychology at New York University specializing in the study of marginalized children and youth, focusing on improving educational and mental health services. His research covers the social and economic impacts on various groups including African American students, Muslim American youth, immigrants' children, and refugees in the US, Europe, and Turkey. Published in leading journals across psychology, education, and health, Sirin has earned multiple awards for teaching excellence and research innovation, notably from Boston College, NYU, the Foundation for Child Development, and the American Educational Research Association. He also received the 2018 Jacobs Foundation Prize for Social Engagement. Sirin co-authored "Muslim American Youth" in the US and authored five bestsellers in Turkey, focusing on societal issues and youth development. He founded the 1 Million Book Project, distributing over a million free children’s books in Turkey. Sirin contributes weekly columns to Oksijen and previously wrote for Hurriyet (2014-2018). And he is from Ardahan, formerly Kars.