R. Gerald Turner
Encyclopedia
Robert Gerald Turner is the President of Southern Methodist University (SMU)
in Dallas, Texas
. Previously he served as Chancellor
of the University of Mississippi ("Ole Miss")
.
with a B.S.
in Psychology
in 1968. He then graduated from the University of Texas
with an M.A.
and a Ph.D.
.
at Malibu, California. He was the Vice-President of the University of Oklahoma
from 1979 to 1984.
from 1984 to 1995. At 38, Turner was considered among the youngest university presidents. While at Ole Miss, he fired Billy Brewer
, the longtime popular football coach, due to allegations of recruiting violations. Successful programs under Turner's leadership grew the school's endowment from $8 million to $64 million.
. He helped lead the school's efforts to attract the George W. Bush Presidential Center, to be located on the SMU campus. In 2008, he earned $2.7 million.
Subcommittee on Presidential Leadership of Internal and External Constituencies. He serves on the Boards of United Way of Dallas, the Methodist Hospital Foundation, the Salvation Army
of Dallas, the First Broadcasting Corporation, J. C. Penney
, Kronos Worldwide, American Beacon Funds, California Federal Preferred Capital Corporation, American Advantage Funds, Skytel Communications, ChemFirst Inc, the ChemFirst Foundation, AMFM, the First Mississippi Corporation, etc.
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. Previously he served as Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University of Mississippi ("Ole Miss")
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
.
Education
R. Gerald Turner received an A.A. from Lubbock Christian College, and graduated from Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...
with a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in 1968. He then graduated from the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
with an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Psychology
The Doctor of Psychology degree is a professional doctorate earned through one of two established training models for clinical psychology...
.
Early career
From 1975 to 1979, Turner was a Professor at Pepperdine UniversityPepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
at Malibu, California. He was the Vice-President of the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
from 1979 to 1984.
University of Mississippi
Turner served as the Chancellor of the University of MississippiUniversity of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
from 1984 to 1995. At 38, Turner was considered among the youngest university presidents. While at Ole Miss, he fired Billy Brewer
Billy Brewer
Billy Brewer is a former head football coach for Southeastern Louisiana University, Louisiana Tech University and University of Mississippi. He is the current host of an Ole Miss Rebel football post-game call-in show....
, the longtime popular football coach, due to allegations of recruiting violations. Successful programs under Turner's leadership grew the school's endowment from $8 million to $64 million.
Southern Methodist University
Since 1995, Turner has served as the President of Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
. He helped lead the school's efforts to attract the George W. Bush Presidential Center, to be located on the SMU campus. In 2008, he earned $2.7 million.
Board and leadership positions
Turner is co-Chair of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and Chair of the National Collegiate Athletic AssociationNational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Subcommittee on Presidential Leadership of Internal and External Constituencies. He serves on the Boards of United Way of Dallas, the Methodist Hospital Foundation, the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
of Dallas, the First Broadcasting Corporation, J. C. Penney
J. C. Penney
-External links:*...
, Kronos Worldwide, American Beacon Funds, California Federal Preferred Capital Corporation, American Advantage Funds, Skytel Communications, ChemFirst Inc, the ChemFirst Foundation, AMFM, the First Mississippi Corporation, etc.