After a successful career as an award-winning journalist, author, and producer, Turner is now using her collective experience to teach the next generation of future journalists; and is committed to making USC a more diverse and inclusive environment through her work with admissions and as the director of the inaugural Minority Serving Institutions Graduate Recruitment Conference.

Turner, who has held positions at ESPN, the NFL Network, MSNBC, AOL, BET, and several newspapers, teaches photojournalism, sports commentary, digital storytelling, and a sports production class. She is head of the undergraduate mentoring program, ARM (Annenberg Resources and Mentoring); founder of the Annenberg Cross-Cultural Student Association; adviser to the USC Photography Club; serves on USC Annenberg graduate admissions, DIEA and sports curriculum and undergraduate journalism curriculum committees. She is currently on the Executive Board of the Academic Senate, program chair for the University Club, and is on the Board of Directors for Black Students of California United.

Turner became the first regularly-featured African American female sports columnist at a major metropolitan daily during her tenure at the Oakland Tribune in the early 90’s. Her photography has been featured in exhibitions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Los Angeles, and USC. She was one of the prize-winning photographers at the 2015 Florence Biennale.

In 2023 she was honored by the USC Black Alumni Association with the Barbara Solomon Staff and Faculty Award and also by her high school alma mater with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2024. 

Awards and honors:

Wyoming High School Distinguished Alumni Award (2024)
USC Black Alumni Association Barbara Solomon Staff and Faculty Award (2023)
NABJ Educator of the Year (2022)
USC Faculty Mentoring Award (undergraduates, 2021)
Behind the Lens award from Black Women Film Network (2021)
Woman of Excellence, Wiley College (2014)
Alumni Legacy Award, Hampton University (2012)