Lane Community College. President's Office

Richard Martin Turner is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. He received a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1956; a master’s degree in music education from Indiana University in 1961; and a doctorate in music education from Indiana University in 1972.

He began his academic career at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he was an associate professor of music and chair of the Department of Music (1956-1968). From 1968-1971 he was chairman of the Department of Music at Fisk University. Fisk University awarded him an honorary doctor of humane letters in 1980.

He began his career in community college administration at the Community College of Baltimore in Maryland; he served as dean of student activities, dean of faculty, and provost, 1971-1979. He served as president of South Central Community College in New Haven, Connecticut, 1979-1985.

Turner was president of Lane Community College, 1985-1988.

He was president of the Nashville Technical Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, 1988-91. From 1992-1996, he served as campus dean, provost, interim president, and executive vice-president at Wayne County Community College District in Detroit, Michigan. He was president of Turner Associates & Mentors, Inc. from1966-2004. Since 2004, he has been interim president of Baltimore City Community College.