Commissioner William Turner

Congressional District - State at Large
Berea - Madison

William H. Turner, PhD, of Lexington, is the National Endowment for the Humanities Distinguished Chair of Appalachian Studies at Berea College.  Turner worked as a Field Representative for the Commission in 1968, just after receiving his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Kentucky; he holds the master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology and anthropology from the University of Notre Dame.  Turner previously served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Interim President of Kentucky State University.  A syndicated op-ed columnist, Turner writes about race, gender and social class.  A native of Harlan County, Kentucky, Turner represents the State-at-Large on the Commission, and his term expires Sept. 12, 2008.