Alberta Banner Turner
Encyclopedia
Alberta Banner Turner is credited with being first African American
to receive a doctorate
in psychology
from The Ohio State University
. Dr. Turner received her Ph.D. in 1935 under the maiden name of Alberta Ethel Turner for her dissertation titled: "The effect of practice on the perception and memorization of digits presented in single exposures." < Kevlin C. Haire
Archives Librarian
The Ohio State University Archives
2700 Kenny Road
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-5769
Fax: (614) 688-4150
Dr. Turner, a dedicated OSU student and Alpha Kappa Alpha
alumni, earned her bachelor's degree
in 1929 and a master's degree
in psychology in 1932 from the university
From OSU Dr. Turner moved on to head of the home economics
department at Winston-Salem College in North Carolina
from 1935 through 1936 before moving on to head of the department of Home Economics at Lincoln University in Missouri
from 1936 through 1937; from 1938-1939 Head of the Department of Home Economics at Southern University
in Louisiana
; 1939 Head of the home economics department at Bennett College for Women in North Carolina. In 1944 Dr. Turner returned to Ohio
as a Clinician at the Ohio Bureau of Juvenile Research.
Upon her return to Ohio, Dr. Turner grew very active in her research where during the 1950s she lectured at Ohio State on psychopathology
and juvenile delinquency
while continuing as a psychologist at Ohio's Bureau of Juvenile Research (now the Ohio Youth Commission). She earned the position of supervising psychologist at the Juvenile Diagnostic Center in 1953 and chief psychologist in 1959. This period of her life is also marked her diligent work as a clinical psychologist working with juveniles at Marysville Reformatory for Women. In 1963 Dr. Turner was promoted to the Central Administrative Office of the Ohio Youth Commission and became the Director of Research for the Ohio Youth Commission, while teaching a variety of graduate courses at Ohio State University and working as a psychologist at the Ohio Reformatory for Women
. Dr. Turner’s rigorous activities included her role with the Criminal Justice Supervisory Commission from 1972 to 1976. During this time, she also served as a consultant to the National Advisory Council on Vocational Rehabilitation
In 1999 The Ohio State University recognized Dr. Turner with Distinguished Service Award duly noting:
Through her professional and academic activities, Turner has served as a role model
and counselor for young people, especially troubled teen-agers, and she has been a pioneer for African Americans in the diagnosis and treatment of delinquent behavior. She has been a strong advocate for racial, civil and religious rights and has worked tirelessly to ensure them for others. In 1966, she was named one of the "Ten Women of the Year" by the Columbus Citizen-Journal.
Long active in civic and service organizations, Turner was the founding president of the Columbus
chapter and the first national program director of The Links Inc., which has 10,000 members nationwide. She has been instrumental in establishing the Prelude Scholarship and Recognition Program, a partnership of Links, Ohio State and the Columbus Public Schools to honor minority
students. Links also has funded an endowed scholarship at Ohio State to support minority students.
These spectacular efforts were not overlooked by the Ohio Psychological Association who in 2003 awarded Dr. Turner the “Achievement Award for a Psychologist in the Public Interest.” The motivating stories of Dr. Turner’s lifelong accomplishments are well written about from Jet magazine
to Psychology of Women Quarterly
and in each and every instance Dr. Turner is righteously held out as role model and inspiration for today’s youth.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to receive a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from The Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. Dr. Turner received her Ph.D. in 1935 under the maiden name of Alberta Ethel Turner for her dissertation titled: "The effect of practice on the perception and memorization of digits presented in single exposures." < Kevlin C. Haire
Archives Librarian
The Ohio State University Archives
2700 Kenny Road
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-5769
Fax: (614) 688-4150
Dr. Turner, a dedicated OSU student and Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
alumni, earned her bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1929 and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in psychology in 1932 from the university
From OSU Dr. Turner moved on to head of the home economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
department at Winston-Salem College in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1935 through 1936 before moving on to head of the department of Home Economics at Lincoln University in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
from 1936 through 1937; from 1938-1939 Head of the Department of Home Economics at Southern University
Southern University
Southern University and A&M College is a historically black college located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Baton Rouge campus is located on Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in the northern section...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
; 1939 Head of the home economics department at Bennett College for Women in North Carolina. In 1944 Dr. Turner returned to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
as a Clinician at the Ohio Bureau of Juvenile Research.
Upon her return to Ohio, Dr. Turner grew very active in her research where during the 1950s she lectured at Ohio State on psychopathology
Psychopathology
Psychopathology is the study of mental illness, mental distress, and abnormal/maladaptive behavior. The term is most commonly used within psychiatry where pathology refers to disease processes...
and juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is participation in illegal behavior by minors who fall under a statutory age limit. Most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not...
while continuing as a psychologist at Ohio's Bureau of Juvenile Research (now the Ohio Youth Commission). She earned the position of supervising psychologist at the Juvenile Diagnostic Center in 1953 and chief psychologist in 1959. This period of her life is also marked her diligent work as a clinical psychologist working with juveniles at Marysville Reformatory for Women. In 1963 Dr. Turner was promoted to the Central Administrative Office of the Ohio Youth Commission and became the Director of Research for the Ohio Youth Commission, while teaching a variety of graduate courses at Ohio State University and working as a psychologist at the Ohio Reformatory for Women
Ohio Reformatory for Women
The Ohio Reformatory for Women is a state prison owned and operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in Marysville, Ohio. It opened in September 1916, when 34 female inmates were transferred from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus. ORW is a multi-security, state facility...
. Dr. Turner’s rigorous activities included her role with the Criminal Justice Supervisory Commission from 1972 to 1976. During this time, she also served as a consultant to the National Advisory Council on Vocational Rehabilitation
In 1999 The Ohio State University recognized Dr. Turner with Distinguished Service Award duly noting:
Through her professional and academic activities, Turner has served as a role model
Role model
The term role model generally means any "person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others".The term first appeared in Robert K. Merton's socialization research of medical students...
and counselor for young people, especially troubled teen-agers, and she has been a pioneer for African Americans in the diagnosis and treatment of delinquent behavior. She has been a strong advocate for racial, civil and religious rights and has worked tirelessly to ensure them for others. In 1966, she was named one of the "Ten Women of the Year" by the Columbus Citizen-Journal.
Long active in civic and service organizations, Turner was the founding president of the Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
chapter and the first national program director of The Links Inc., which has 10,000 members nationwide. She has been instrumental in establishing the Prelude Scholarship and Recognition Program, a partnership of Links, Ohio State and the Columbus Public Schools to honor minority
Minority group
A minority is a sociological group within a demographic. The demographic could be based on many factors from ethnicity, gender, wealth, power, etc. The term extends to numerous situations, and civilizations within history, despite the misnomer of minorities associated with a numerical statistic...
students. Links also has funded an endowed scholarship at Ohio State to support minority students.
These spectacular efforts were not overlooked by the Ohio Psychological Association who in 2003 awarded Dr. Turner the “Achievement Award for a Psychologist in the Public Interest.” The motivating stories of Dr. Turner’s lifelong accomplishments are well written about from Jet magazine
Jet (magazine)
Jet is an American weekly marketed toward African-American readers, founded in 1951 by John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois...
to Psychology of Women Quarterly
Psychology of Women Quarterly
Psychology of Women Quarterly is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes papers in the field of Psychology. The journal's editor is Janice D. Yoder . It has been in publication since 1976 and is currently published by SAGE Publications.- Scope :Psychology of Women Quarterly publishes...
and in each and every instance Dr. Turner is righteously held out as role model and inspiration for today’s youth.
External links
- http://psychology.okstate.edu/museum/afroam/bio.html
- http://www.osu.edu/news/releases/99-08-24_Commencement_Honors_for_Five.html
- http://www.osu.edu/news/releases/99-08-24_Commencement_Honors_for_Five.html (page 31)