Teresa Turner, Director of Student Affairs, Central Florida

Meet Mrs. Teresa Turner!

Teresa Turner is the Director of Student Affairs for the Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of Florida SSF Campuses.

The child of a Navy family, Teresa was born in Hawaii and moved around often before her family settled down in Starke, Florida. She is a graduate of Bradford High School. After graduation she sought adventure in Colorado where she lived and worked for several years. She moved back to Florida where she reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Fred, who like her Dad, was a Navy man. They married in 1985 and started their life together moving to Philadelphia. They were stationed in several different locations where Teresa worked with other financial institutes before moving to a remote military base in Western Australia. This move fulfilled a life-long dream of Teresa’s. They were fortunate enough to live there for 3 years experiencing the real Australia. When they returned to the States, it was with their daughter Samantha.

Living in Jacksonville now, Teresa found her real passion (working for non-profits) when she began working with the American Cancer Society as an assistant in the fund-raising department. From there she and her family moved to Tallahassee where Teresa was fortunate to work several years with the Big Bend Area Health Education Center. It was this position that led her to discover the Southern Scholarship Foundation. In 1997 Teresa was hired as the Office Manager and worked in the Tallahassee office until the Foundation completed the construction of two new scholarship houses in Gainesville. Living closer to her family and working for SSF was too good of an opportunity to pass up, so when discussion occurred regarding the need for a Student Affairs Director in Gainesville, Teresa quickly showed her interest. Now, several years later, Teresa is so thankful for the many relationships she has formed and the many wonderful memories she has because of the Foundation.

In her free time, Teresa spends time with her family and friends. She loves animals (she has 3 horses and 4 cats) and educates herself often in the natural and holistic care of these creatures.