Marian University’s Fred S. Klipsch Educators College dean LaTonya Turner,
Ph.D., has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Education's Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) for the Midwest, serving Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel A. Cardona Ph.D., said Dr. Turner's exemplary qualifications and experience qualified her for membership as she will join a Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) team of 25 representatives from Midwestern local education agencies, institutions of higher education, businesses, researchers, practicing educators, and other local school officials. Dr. Turner will serve immediately on the committee for at least six months.
"I am extremely proud and honored to be invited to join the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) for the Midwest, partnering with colleagues in the education industry to identify the need for educational improvements, and making recommendations to benefit millions of students," said Dr. Turner.
As part of the Midwest Regional Advisory Committee (RAC), Dr. Turner, and other committee members will review regional educational data and public comments. They will then provide advice and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Education regarding the educational needs of the Midwest region and how those needs would be most effectively addressed.
"Marian University is richly blessed for Dr. Turner's leadership of the Klipsch Educators College (KEC) especially since over the past six years, the KEC has become nationally prominent through the excellence they've achieved in preparing teachers and principals for service to schools and communities," said Marian University president Daniel J. Elsener. "Her appointment to the U.S. Department of Education's Regional Advisory Committee is a blessing to the nation.” "Since Dr. Turner has led KEC's educational programs with high distinction and quality," President Elsener added, "It is no surprise and most appropriate that the U.S. Department of Education sought her expertise and wisdom in their efforts."
The Regional Advisory Committee met virtually twice in September 2023 and will submit initial reports to the U.S. Secretary of Education in October 2023 regarding assessing education needs within each region and technical advice regarding how those needs would be effectively addressed.
Dr. Turner has been highly regarded and awarded recently. In June 2023, under her leadership as dean of the Klipsch Educators College (KEC), the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) named Marian's program among the best in the nation for exemplary preparation of future elementary teachers in the Science of Reading, and the only school in Indiana with an A+ rating.
Read more here about U.S. Department of Education Regional Advisory Committees.