Margaret & Cal Turner

A gift from Margaret and Cal Turner, Jr. will fund a professorship in one of Western Kentucky University’s most nationally prominent programs. The Turners recently made a gift of $500,000 to create the Margaret and Cal Turner Professorship in Journalism in the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

“My education in Scottsville, Ky., was largely rendered by Western Kentucky University teachers. Thankful for that contribution to our lives, Margaret and I are honored to invest in that fine Western educational heritage for future generations," Cal Turner said.

According to Tom Hiles, vice president for Institutional Advancement, the gift will be matched by $500,000 from the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Regional University Excellence Trust Fund, creating a total endowment of $1 million for the Turner Professorship.

"It is truly fitting that the Turner family, whose name is tied to excellence, be forever connected with our
nationally prominent Journalism Program," Hiles said.

Dr. Pam McAllister Johnson, the new director of Western’s School of Journalism and Broadcasting
and Center for 21st Century Media, said "We have a very strong School of Journalism and Broadcasting."

"Our goal is to take it to the next step, to promote the school, and to obtain an endowed chair in each of our sequences: advertising, broadcasting, public relations, photography, and mass communications. This gift is very significant because it is our first endowed chair. It is very special."