Dr. R. Elaine Turner is Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Florida (UF) where she provides leadership for academic programs that comprise UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). She has been recognized by the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences as Undergraduate Teacher of the Year and was named one of two UF Honors Professors of the Year. Dr. Turner has received the National Award for Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences from USDA. She also received the NACTA Teacher Fellow award, and the Distinguished Service Award from the Kansas State University College of Health and Human Sciences.

Dr. Turner earned her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in nutrition from Purdue University. She served as faculty at Clemson University for 10 years before joining the UF in 1996. At the University of Florida, she taught undergraduate courses and collaborated in the development and teaching of a graduate course on dietary supplements. She also coauthored two popular introductory nutrition textbooks, both of which were endorsed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association).