Jonathan M. Turk

Jonathan M. Turk is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education Administration at Saint Louis University's School of Education. His research focuses on college student persistence, community colleges, transfer pathways, and equity in higher education. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and has prior roles at the American Council on Education and George Mason University.

Education:

• Ph.D., Higher Education, University of Georgia (2016)
• M.S., Educational Research, Iowa State University (2012)
• B.A., Political Science & Sociology, Iowa State University (2010)

Research Interests:

Dr. Turk examines issues such as developmental education effectiveness, labor market returns to credentials, and policy interventions to enhance equity. He employs quantitative methods like quasi-experimental designs to evaluate institutional practices and policy impacts.

Grants & Leadership:

• Principal Investigator: $33,935 TIAA Institute grant (2020–2021) on pandemic responses in higher education.
• Co-PI: $937,121 Mellon Foundation grant (2017–2020) analyzing race and ethnicity in higher education.
• Leadership roles include serving as Faculty Assembly Vice-Chair at SLU's School of Education.

Professional Engagements:

He advises graduate students, serves on editorial boards (e.g., Journal of Postsecondary Student Success), and participates in national initiatives like the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative. His work is frequently cited in media outlets such as Inside Higher Ed and EducationDive.