PIERRE, S.D. – Paul Turman, who has led academic assessment, institutional research, and student success initiatives for the South Dakota Board of Regents, is the public higher education system’s new vice president of research and economic development.
“Dr. Turman brings a keen understanding of public higher education to this task. He also recognizes the important role that higher education plays to enhance and support economic and workforce development in South Dakota,” said Jack Warner, the regents’ executive director and CEO. “Paul has been with the regents’ staff since 2006; we are very pleased to have one of our own assume these responsibilities going forward.”
As vice president, Turman will lead the public university system’s focus on research and development initiatives and serve as the board’s point person on multiple efforts to translate more university-based research into positive economic development for South Dakota.
Turman has a history of successful research, having published 32 peer-reviewed research articles, in addition to three co-authored books and five book chapters. He has presented 57 manuscripts at professional conferences and been recognized for contributions to research in his discipline, receiving 12 top manuscript/article awards since 2000. Turman continues to serve a variety of roles in national, regional, and state organizations related to his discipline and higher education, while also continuing to serve on the editorial boards for three scholarly journals.
A native of Fort Pierre, S.D., Turman was associate professor of communication studies at the University of Northern Iowa prior to returning to his home state to work for the Board of Regents. While at Northern Iowa, he received awards for outstanding research, teaching, and the advising of student organizations. He holds a Ph.D. in communications studies from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as well as bachelor and master’s degrees from South Dakota State University.
Turman succeeds Gary E. Johnson, the regents’ vice president of research since 2008, who plans to retire this year after a distinguished career devoted to public- and private-sector research and the academic world.
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