Leah Turner, Ph.D.

Research Scientist and Director, University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences

Leah Turner is a Research Scientist and Director for GeoSTEM Career Exploration and Workforce Development at the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences. Her research focuses on advancing racial equity in STEM education and workforce development, supporting individuals and communities most impacted by systemic racism and associated inequities.

With over a decade of experience in higher education, she puts data to practice in the leadership of critical and complex initiatives, securing support from major stakeholders including the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and prominent players in the energy industry. Programs under her direction see racially underrepresented alumni in STEM pursuing these degrees, specifically geoscience, at a rate that significantly outperforms the national average.

Her expertise lies at the crossroads of strategic thinking and creative execution. She revels in transforming innovative ideas into actionable strategies and tangible outcomes and excels in successful management of internal collaborative partners and external investors, fostering partnerships that drive organizational growth. Her passion for developing and supporting a diverse community of nonprofit leaders comes from her own lived experiences.

As a former student-athlete, Leah was inducted into the West Virgnia State University Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, a testament to dedication, teamwork, and achieving collective goals. She is also an HBCU alumna with degrees from WVSU in Biology (B.S.) and Biotechnology (M.S.), and holds a doctoral degree in Higher Education (Ph.D.) from Ohio University.