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 [1]
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.[2]
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[1]
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.[1]
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.” [3] 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.[4]