Stephen R. Turner Named as Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at Purdue Calumet and Purdue North Central

purdue-north-centralStephen R. Turner will assume responsibilities as the vice chancellor for Finance and Administration for both Purdue University North Central and Purdue University Calumet effective April 1.

The appointment represents the first step in unification efforts intended to combine administrative and academic oversight functions at the two campuses. The goal of the unification initiative is to enable a stronger Purdue presence in Northwest Indiana by streamlining and combining administrative functions and reinvesting those saved resources in academic programs and faculty.

"As we begin our unification process, it made perfect sense to ask Steve to take on the responsibility of vice chancellor for Finance and Administration for both campuses," said Dr. James B. Dworkin, chancellor of Purdue North Central. "Steve has a wealth of knowledge about Purdue University, business services, campus operations and physical facilities. I am confident that he will continue to do an excellent job for PNC, Purdue Calumet and Purdue University. Steve's experience and tremendous enthusiasm for the job will serve him well as he steps forward during this critical time."

Purdue Calumet Chancellor Dr. Thomas L. Keon added, "It is exciting and appropriate that a current vice chancellor with Steve's background and knowledge-someone who is familiar with our Purdue system and, notably, our financial model and related capital priorities-is the first appointee of the emerging, consolidated senior administrative team that will lead our unified campuses."

As vice chancellor for Finance and Administration, Turner will serve as chief financial and administrative officer of both campuses, overseeing more than 1,500 employees, combined budgets of $177 million and university facilities and infrastructure valued at $547 million. Turner came to Purdue North Central in 1998 and has been the vice chancellor of Administration there for the past five years. He earned undergraduate degrees from Indiana University Northwest and Purdue Calumet, a master's degree from Western Michigan and an MBA from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, West Lafayette. He is a member of many local service and community organizations, serves on several boards and has been both appointed and elected to public office.

"I look forward to working closely with both chancellors, with our excellent faculty and with the outstanding staff at both campuses," said Turner. "I am confident the unification will result in a stronger, more focused institution better equipped to serve the students and communities in our region. By combining vision, broad collaboration and timely implementation, we will create a unified university greater than the sum of its parts."