Dr. Nannette C. Turner has been appointed interim dean of Mercer University’s College of Health Professions, effective immediately, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Lisa Murphey Lundquist, Pharm.D., announced.

The appointment follows the appointment of Dr. Lundquist, founding dean of the College of Health Professions and former senior vice provost, as University executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.

“I’m grateful to Nannette Turner for agreeing to assume interim leadership of the College of Health Professions,” Dr. Lundquist said. “She is a well-respected leader and scholar who understands and embraces the College’s mission to improve the health and quality of life of individuals and society. I am confident that Dr. Turner will continue the positive momentum and culture of excellence that the College of Health Professions has created over the past 13 years.”

Dr. Turner joined the Mercer University faculty as an assistant professor of public health in 2007, was promoted to associate professor and joined the College of Health Professions as chair of the department of public health in 2013. She was promoted to professor in 2019, served as associate dean in 2021-2025 and currently serves as executive associate dean in the College of Health Professions.

“Serving as interim dean of the College of Health Professions is a privilege,” said Dr. Turner. “I am honored and deeply committed to working alongside our faculty, staff and students to build on the strengths that make our college exceptional – strong academic programs focused on student success, faculty and staff who advance shared goals of academic excellence, and relevant research and service to meaningfully impact our communities.”

Dr. Turner received a doctorate in health education and health promotion from the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She received a Master of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston and a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from Xavier University of Louisiana.

She has more than 25 years of experience as a public health practitioner in Texas and Georgia in positions including: epidemiologist, administrative supervisor for HIV Serosurveillance, program consultant for Tobacco Control and executive director of the West Central Georgia Cancer Coalition.

Dr. Turner is an active member of the Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health, American Public Health Association, Georgia Society of Public Health Educators and the Association of Prevention, Teaching and Research. She is currently a member of the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium and serves as co-chair for the Early Detection and Screening Committee. In 2015, she was appointed to the Georgia Health Commissioner’s Task Force on Tobacco Control.

Dr. Lundquist said a search committee for a permanent dean will be announced at a later date.