One of the most highly-compensated university presidents in the United States,[1] Turner has been described as a "transformational"[2] figure who helped rehabilitate SMU's national reputation following the infamous 1980s football scandal and NCAA death penalty.
His tenure as president, the longest in SMU history, has also been marked by legal confirmation of the university's independence from the United Methodist Church,[3] and campus expansion, and the school's endowment surpassing $1 billion.
[2][4] At the same time, Turner has drawn criticism for failing to translate his fundraising prowess into significant improvements in the national rankings of SMU and its constituent colleges.
[4] Further, Turner has courted controversy for his decision to bring the George W. Bush Presidential Center to SMU,[5] and, more recently, the university's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While at Ole Miss, he fired Billy Brewer, the longtime popular football coach, due to allegations of recruiting violations.