New Faculty Member, Jonathan Turk, Ph.D., Committed to Equity and Access in Higher Education
11/16/2021
Earlier this semester, 抖阴pro welcomed Jonathan Turk, Ph.D., a new assistant professor of higher education administration in the School of Education. Turk, who is teaching a graduate-level research methodology class this fall, is excited to be learning with students while pursuing research aimed at advancing community colleges, supporting community college students, and eliminating equity gaps in higher education.
Turk鈥檚 interest in community colleges stems from his own educational and career experiences.
Before earning his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from Iowa State University and
his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, Turk began his postsecondary education at
the same institution both of his parents began theirs: Des Moines Area Community College
(DMACC) in Ankeny, Iowa. He later became an academic advisor at DMACC and saw firsthand
the magic of community colleges. 鈥淚 just have such admiration for community colleges.
They meet students where they are and ensure anyone interested in a postsecondary
education has that opportunity,鈥� Turk said. His time at DMACC inspired his interest
in pursuing research focused on community college student persistence and success,
transfer and articulation, developmental education, and career and technical education.
One of his active research projects in this space is a study examining the role of
the associate鈥檚 degree in bachelor鈥檚 degree completion rates and early labor-market
returns.
As an undergraduate, Turk served as student body president at Iowa State University
and in that role, he developed connections with university leaders, members of the
Board of Regents, and Iowa state legislators. These were just some of the experiences
that helped spark his interest in higher education policy and how policy can support
(or hinder) college access, transfer, and student success. In fact, these interests
would ultimately lead him to become the Director of Research at the American Council
on Education in Washington, D.C., where he served in different roles for seven years
prior to coming to 抖阴pro.
Currently, in the higher education policy space, Turk is beginning a study with colleagues
at 抖阴pro to examine transfer patterns and transfer credit loss in
Missouri. This study will also explore early evidence of the impact of CORE 42, a
state-wide framework to promote seamless transfer of general education credits among
all Missouri community colleges and public four-year colleges and universities. Turk鈥檚
commitment to researching issues relevant to underserved communities is a great fit
for 抖阴pro鈥檚 higher education program, which places social justice
at the heart of the graduate education experience. Molly
Schaller, Associate Dean of the School of Education said, 鈥淒r. Turk鈥檚 scholarly focus
and that of his practice has been on access to higher education. Our students will
gain from his vast experience as a researcher and as an active member in the national
conversation about providing opportunities for students from all backgrounds.鈥�
Turk is looking forward to becoming better acquainted with graduate students in the
School of Education and hopes to publish research with doctoral students in the higher
education administration program. He is most passionate about conducting research
to solve real and practical programs facing colleges and universities and their students.
In his experience, doctoral students tend to be nervous about starting their research
agenda, but he enjoys helping students draw from their own experiences and interests
to articulate important questions and design studies that will help yield important
insights for institutional practice and policy. He also enjoys getting the opportunity
to learn from graduate students. 鈥淚 view doctoral students as colleagues,鈥� Turk said,
鈥淚 benefit from their expertise and enjoy learning from them as much as I enjoy sharing
my own expertise. I鈥檓 looking forward to opportunities to collaborate with students
because it enhances the learning we can all do.鈥� Molly Schaller agrees, saying, 鈥淎s
we鈥檝e gotten started this year, Jon has been a voice of insight and renewal as we
contemplate how best to prepare our students for scholarship and leadership in higher
education.鈥� Turk believes graduate school provides a unique opportunity to ask big
questions and encourages students to think about issues they want to address through
research. 鈥淲here do you want to make a difference? That鈥檚 where you should look for
research ideas,鈥� Turk said. When faculty and students work together, new researchers
soon learn that research does not have to be scary or overwhelming. Turk enjoys watching
graduate students realize how their research contributions can positively impact colleges
and universities and the students they serve. To learn more about Turk鈥檚 past and
present research, visit his website at or contact him at jonathan.turk@slu.edu.