One of Canada’s most experienced post-secondary leaders, Dr. Turpin has served 18 years as a university president, stewarding both the University of Alberta and the University of Victoria. Prior to this he was a department head at UBC, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science and then Vice-Principal Academic at Queen’s.
He is a distinguished scholar who has received the Steacie Fellowship and is recognized as a Thomson ISI highly cited researcher. Dr. Turpin has been Chair of the World University Service of Canada, Chair of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, Vice-Chair of the U15 Executive Heads, and has served on the Executive of both the Worldwide University Network and Universities Canada. He is currently Chair of the Pacific Marine Science Alliance (Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre) and serves on the Boards of Polar Knowledge Canada and Ocean Networks Canada.
For his service to the community Dr. Turpin has been recognized as a member of the Order of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and is the recipient of both the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals. He holds honorary degrees from Simon Fraser University and the Universities of Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba.