Great leaders aspire
to impact rather than
to impress.
About Dr. Cynthia W. Turner
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EDUCATOR | PRODUCER | SERVANT LEADER
Dr. Cynthia W. Turner is an award-winning accounting educator, higher education administrator, executive producer, author, and ordained minister whose life and career reflect a commitment to faith, education, creativity, and service. With more than three decades of experience in higher education, she has dedicated her career to developing future leaders, expanding opportunities, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
A trailblazer in accounting education and academic leadership, Dr. Turner graduated as valedictorian and summa cum laude from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. She went on to become the first Black woman to earn a PhD in accounting from The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business and later became the first Black woman
to serve on the college's leadership team. At Fisher, she has held both assistant and associate dean positions, providing strategic leadership for initiatives focused on student success, educational opportunity, and community engagement. She currently serves as a strategic advisor to the Dean, helping advance institutional priorities, cultivate partnerships, and strengthen external relationships.
Beyond academia, Dr. Turner serves as an executive producer and business strategist with Dreadhead Films, a Columbus-based creative studio founded by her sons, award-winning filmmakers Julien and Justen Turner, professionally known as the Turner Brothers. Drawing on her extensive business and leadership experience, she supports the development, financing, and production of original film and television projects, including FreeLance, an independent comedy series whose pilot premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and earned the Turner Brothers the Best Director of a Comedy Pilot award at SeriesFest.
An ordained minister, Dr. Turner has devoted much of her life to music ministry and has led both women's and young adult ministries at her local churches. Her faith has been a guiding force throughout her personal and professional journey, particularly during her experience as a breast cancer survivor. That journey inspired her book, My Seven-Day Makeover, a personal testimony of faith, resilience, and spiritual transformation. Through her ministry, writing, and service, she encourages others to embrace their purpose and navigate life's challenges with faith and hope.
Dr. Turner is the loving wife of jazz guitarist and music educator Kevin Turner and the proud mother of Julien, Justen and bonus daughter Kia. She also cherishes being a mother-in-love and grandmother, affectionately known as GiGi. Across the many dimensions of her life, she remains grounded in faith, family, and a commitment to serving others.