KENTFIELD / NOVATO, CA -- College of Marin’s Professor Walter Turner won the first-ever state-wide award for Full-Time Faculty of the Year at the Black Educator Excellence Awards by Black Student Success Week. The awards ceremony was hosted on January 27, 2025, in Sacramento.
Professor Turner was born in Marin City and continues to serve his community and College of Marin students. With 50 years as social science faculty, specializing in African and African American Studies, he is chair of the Social Sciences Department and serves as the COM Umoja Coordinator.
Superintendent/President Dr. Jonathan Eldridge stated, “There is no one more deserving of this award and I am sure those of you who know Walter will agree--this award should be named after him! Professor Turner's fifty years of contributions to the education of students in Marin—and around the world—is beyond exemplary."
Turner co-founded the Umoja Learning Community with Rinetta Early and Tonya Hersch, focusing on the academic success and cultural experience of African American, and all students, He is a co-founder of College of Marin's UMOJA Equity Institute. In August 2024, he led a delegation of UMOJA students to Ghana. He also founded and leads the men’s UMOJA group.
College of Marin alumna Taria Gregoire had only heard stories of Professor Turner when she was sitting in his class in the summer of 2015.
"When I went to class, he blew my mind," said Gregoire. "He’s very humble. But he has this presence about him that just radiates. He’s funny, sarcastic, and emanates this sense of exuberance, because when you know who you are and where you come from, you can stand tall. For that, I felt my backbone become stronger when I realized what I was missing. I was thinking to myself, ‘What have I been learning all these years? Where have I been?'"
Current student Natalie Fompersoa spoke about Turner's impact on her college journey.
"He has taken me under his wing to help me gain as much knowledge as possible when it comes to being a scholar," says Fompersoa. "He’s been an inspiration to my educational journey and am very grateful to be able to work alongside him."
Turner's students carry the knowledge he imparts to them while at the College and it continues to be a resource for them as they graduate and move forward with their lives.
"Professor Turner is a role model," says alumnus Cobi Wilson. "Being able to impact an entire institution, community, and student lives--that is what prolific means. He has taught me many lessons that I’ll continue to use for the rest of my life."