Dr. Fatma Vedia Dökmeci, began her architectural studies in the Faculty of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi) where she graduated in 1962. Shortly after, she began graduate education at Columbia University, where she received her Ph.D. in 1972. After returning to Turkey to begin her career, Dr. Dökmeci was involved in numerous professional activities, including design competitions, research projects, and fellowships, many of which intersected urban and environmental planning. In 2001 she established Real Estate Development Master Program at Istanbul Technical University, where she taught from 1978-1988.