In Memoriam: Whitman Advisor and Rising Star Award Winner Liz Turner
Elizabeth “Liz” Turner, a beloved academic advisor and assistant director of advising at the Whitman School of Management, passed away Feb. 23 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. She had been a dedicated member of the Whitman community since 2016.
Turner joined Whitman nearly a decade ago as an academic advisor, quickly earning a reputation among students and colleagues for her patience, positive energy and genuine commitment to student success. In 2020, the school recognized her contributions with the Whitman Rising Star Award, one of the school’s most meaningful staff honors.
Over the years, Turner faced serious health challenges that periodically kept her from campus, yet she returned each time with characteristic determination. Colleagues noted that she never allowed those struggles to diminish her enthusiasm or her dedication to the students and staff she served. She was later promoted to assistant director of advising, a role those close to her say she embraced with pride.
“Work wasn’t just a job to Liz—it was a source of purpose and joy,” wrote Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and Student Success Lindsay Quilty in a message to the Whitman community this week.
Turner is survived by her husband, Fred, and their dog, Penny. She will be remembered by the Whitman advising team and the broader university community as someone who led with grace, humor, and heart.
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