Administrator receives civil rights award
William Turner, the associate provost for multicultural affairs, was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Citizenship Award Wednesday afternoon.
In its fifth year, the award is given to a Kentuckian who “has exemplified Dr. King’s principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change,” according to the Kentucky State Commerce Cabinet’s Web site. Members of a 13-person committee appointed by the governor chose the winner.
The ceremony, held in Frankfort, featured Gov. Ernie Fletcher as the opening speaker. His wife, Glenna Fletcher, presented the award to Turner.
“Some people work as carpenters, some people work as surgeons, but my work has always been about human rights and equality,” Turner said.
Turner served on UK’s faculty from 1979 to 1983. At Kentucky State University, Turner served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1983 to 1984 and as interim president from 2003 to 2004. He has also worked at Fisk, Howard and Winston-Salem Universities. Turner has been an associate provost since 2004.
His essays have been regularly printed in local and national publications.
UK spokesman Jay Blanton said Turner performs two functions in his pursuit for civil rights. In addition to his associate provost position, he is vice president for university engagement, where he works to create partnerships between UK and surrounding community organizations.
“He has a long list of achievements when it comes to civil rights,” Blanton said.
After receiving his award, Turner said that now he will only work harder for civil rights.
“It just meant a lot in terms of recognition,” he said. “It means I must intensify my commitment, intensify my dedication. And I will try to live more humbly and not be distracted by the resistance to the kinds of things that must still be done, that need to be done 40 years after Dr. King’s death.”
Leave a Reply