Clarkson names Turner as dean

POTSDAM — Clarkson University has named Peter R. Turner dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. He has served as the school's interim dean, as well as head of the division of math and computer science, since July.

"Dr. Turner brings several special qualities to the position of dean that will serve the school well, including a demonstrated record of academic administrative leadership, distinguished scholarship as a mathematician and leadership in outreach and collaboration through Clarkson's well-recognized involvement as a provider of K-12/STEM learning enhancements to local/regional public school systems," Provost Thomas C. Young said in a statement.

In his time as interim dean, Mr. Turner oversaw three graduate-level programs in various stages of development, as well as the opening of the Technology Advancement Center. He also led adjustments to the Clarkson Common Experience curriculum and hired instructors for the college's new physician assistant program.

Since Mr. Turner came to Clarkson in 2002, the mathematics and computer science division has increased its scholarship output and research funding, as well as adding a doctoral program in computer science.

He led the development of a bachelor's degree program in digital arts and sciences and a graduate-level minor in computational science and engineering.

Mr. Turner has published more than 50 articles in scholarly journals and written several textbooks, as well as bringing more than $1 million in external funding to the college.

Before he came to Clarkson, he was on the faculty of the University of Lancaster in England and the U.S. Naval Academy, for 15 years each.