Dr. LaTonya M. Turner is widely regarded as one of the most transformational educators of our time. With a career spanning more than 25 years in education, Dr. Turner has dedicated her life to ensuring every child, especially the most vulnerable, has access to academically rigorous, emotionally nurturing, and future-focused education that opens doors and changes lives.

Dr. Turner most recently served as the Dean of the Fred S. Klipsch Educators College at Marian University, where she became the first African American woman to hold a deanship at the institution. Under her leadership, the college expanded its reach and impact through innovative programs that emphasized culturally responsive teaching, trauma-informed practices, and the preparation of high-impact educators equipped for the demands of a global society. As a cabinet-level leader and accreditation steward, she shaped policy and practice across the university.

Her influence, however, extends far beyond the academy. Dr. Turner is the founder and CEO of 2CL Consulting, LLC, an educational consultancy committed to equipping schools and educators with the tools to improve instructional practices, effectively use data and assessments, and build inclusive, life-affirming school cultures. She is also the co-founder of The League of Extraordinary Parents, a national initiative designed to reduce the effects of income and wealth inequality on academic outcomes by helping families create their children’s lives with intentionality, purpose, and vision.

The Indianapolis Business Journal nationally recognized Dr. Turner as a 2020 Woman of Influence. She is a member of the Educator Advisory Board for the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET)—one of only 11 nationwide. She has been a trusted advisor to the U.S. Department of Education, the Indiana Department of Education, the Mayor’s Office of Education Innovation, and numerous civic, faith-based, and philanthropic organizations.

A trailblazer in every sense, Dr. Turner was the first African American principal of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis. There, she led with courage and compassion, preserving academic excellence while breaking barriers in private, faith-based education. A former teacher and counselor, she profoundly understands every layer of the education ecosystem.

Her personal story is as compelling as her professional one. A survivor of seven of the ten most severe Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Dr. Turner transformed her trauma into triumph. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, holds a Master of Science in Education (Counselor Education) from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and English from Missouri Valley College, where she attended on a track scholarship.

Dr. Turner is also the proud mother of Dr. Naeem Khari Turner-Bandele, a multilingual energy systems researcher and NYU Stern MBA candidate, and wife of nationally recognized TED speaker and author Nathaniel A. Turner. Her family is a living testament to the possibilities that arise when love, strategy, and intellectual ambition intersect.

Whether mentoring aspiring leaders, advising policymakers, or empowering parents, Dr. Turner delivers truth with warmth, vision with precision, and strategy with soul. Her life’s work challenges us to stop admiring the problem and start engineering bold, equitable solutions that transform generations.