President Sherry L. Turner Officially Welcomed to Hartford

An enthusiastic cross-section of the Hartford community welcomed President Sherry L. Turner into office at a breakfast event held at HIU on Sept. 9, 2025.

University presidents, community leaders, and Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam came out to welcome President Turner to Connecticut's capital city. She is a new resident to Hartford's West End, having moved from Memphis, Tennessee, this summer.

President Turner was introduced by several speakers.

The first was Naseem Shaikh, First Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, who described the search process for a new president, which included applications from about 50 individuals from across the world. 

"Through this rigorous process, one candidate stood out — not only for her impressive credentials and leadership experience, but also for her warmth, wisdom, and deep commitment to education and to the values that define Hartford International University," he said. "That candidate was Dr. Sherry Turner."

Dr. Deena Grant, Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, who spoke on behalf of staff and faculty, described President Turner as "the embodiment of the servant leader."

"Dr. Turner never lets a meeting conclude without asking the question, “How can I help you?,” Dr. Grant said. "And she listens to your answer."

Board Chair Clare Feldman went over President Turner's impressive CV, which includes leadership positions at Rhodes College, Spelman College, Mount Holyoke College, and other institutions. But she emphasized that it was President Turner's enthusiasm, personality, and energy that make her such a great fit for HIU at a time such as this.

"I actually joked with her that I was going to bring roller skates because I needed to be able to keep up," she said.

When she came to the podium to speak, President Turner spoke about being a first generation college student, the daughter of a sanitation worker and a clerk typist, and the descendant of share croppers and midwives. 

"I marvel at being here. I stand here with a deep sense of both humility and awe at how I could become President of Hartford International University for Religion and Peace."

President Turner spoke about being a student in HIU's Black Ministries Certificate Program (BMP) in the 1990s when she was a young faculty member at Mount Holyoke grappling with a call to ministry. Her pastor encouraged her to consider the BMP. "I did, and it changed my life."

Around that time, she also met Dr. Cheryl Townsend Gilkes, a current member of HIU's faculty, who told President Turner that "the church needs social scientists." In addition, President Turner discovered the work of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, "which inspired me to continue my own research program on contextual influences [including religious communities] on the development of African American adolescents."

President Turner thanked renowned author and educational leader Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, who was in the audience, for introducing her to her predecessor, President Emeritus Joel N. Lohr, which eventually led to Dr. Turner serving on HIU's board. Now she will lead the institution into the future.

"Hartford International has a unique calling and attracts individuals who share that calling – people who are committed to building peace through dialogue, engagement, education and justice," she said. 

"People are at the heart of our university — students, faculty, staff, alumni, and stakeholders. Caring for people means ensuring that students receive a transformative education, faculty and staff have the resources they need to thrive, and alumni and friends remain engaged." 

Below is a video of the remarks: