Contact: Thonnia Lee, Office of Strategic Communications
Reporting to Dr. Thierno Thiam, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Turner will be responsible for providing strategic leadership for our research enterprise and overseeing proposal submission, award negotiations, and compliance.
Since 1996, Dr. Turner has shared his brilliance with Tuskegee University students by stretching their research goals and introducing innovative techniques to contribute to ground-breaking work. He has secured millions in research in federal awards, built multi-institutional collaborations and mentored faculty toward research independence.
“I believe a strong research enterprise is essential not only to advancing knowledge, but to strengthening institutional sustainability, reputation, and impact,” said Dr. Turner. “At Tuskegee University, research has always carried a higher purpose—advancing discovery while serving community needs. That tradition, exemplified by Dr. George Washington Carver, must now evolve into a modern, scalable innovation ecosystem that positions Tuskegee as a nationally competitive research institution. As Vice President for Research, Sponsored Programs and Innovation, I will focus on three integrated priorities: research growth, operational modernization, and innovation and commercialization.”
Dr. Turner’s work is contributing to the Renaissance Era at Tuskegee. The university transformation includes the construction of the Center for Genomics and Health Disparity Research annex.
“Our objective is clear: position Tuskegee University not only as a generator of knowledge, but also as a driver of regional economic development and institutional sustainability,” he said. “Dr. Carver translated discovery into practical solutions that empowered communities. Our modern innovation strategy must reflect that same ethos—scientific excellence coupled with tangible impact.”
“Dr. Turner has consistently led research opportunities while seeking ways to improve administrative efficiency,” said Dr. Thiam. “We look forward to his leadership to streamline the pre-award and post-award processes while improving compliance tracking to allow faculty to focus on competitive proposal development.”
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