Reflections From the Longest-Serving UBalt President

H. Mebane Turner is an educator who earned four degrees and one honorary. He has held many professional titles throughout his long career, including: stockbroker, ordained army chaplain, field secretary, dean of students, director of admissions and provost. He achieved all of this prior to becoming president of The University of Baltimore, serving for an unprecedented 33 years. So when Meb, as he is affectionately known to his UBalt family, said over lunch that “a UBalt education prepares graduates to adapt to their changing circumstances,” he knew what he was talking about.

Turner is passionate about education and helping students. Early in his career, he was an assistant director for financial aid, where he managed the student emergency loan program. He was responsible for helping students in need continue their education. The desire to help students has always stayed with him.

“I don’t think you can make a better investment than in The University of Baltimore,” he says.

Turner did just that with a gift in an estate plan to UBalt. Before he retired, he endowed the Betty T. and E. Halcott Turner Endowment Fund as a way to honor his parents and help the University and its students. The fund provides three annual awards:

• The Betty T. Turner Award is presented annually to an outstanding senior graduating from the undergraduate English program in the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts.
• The E. Halcott Turner Award is presented annually to an outstanding senior graduating from the undergraduate Jurisprudence program in the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts.
• The H. Mebane Turner Professorship in Early American History or American Constitutional History is awarded annually to a faculty member whose specialty is in Early American History or American Constitutional History.

Turner later shared that he is pleased that alumni continue to show their support of UBalt by giving back and helping current and future students of Baltimore.

“Our biggest challenge remains as it always has been—that we continue to secure private support for UBalt so that the University can remain a leader among urban institutions,” he says.

Extend the Gift of Education

Like Turner, you can help students succeed by planning a gift that will impact future generations. Contact Tara Mulligan at 410.837.6152 or tmulligan@ubalt.edu to discuss smart giving strategies that benefit you and UBalt.