Dedication of Jim L. Turpin Student Advising Center Set for April 14

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Jim L. Turpin

The Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering is proud to invite the campus to the dedication of the Dr. Jim L. Turpin Student Advising Center at 1 p.m. Friday, April 14, in Bell Engineering Center, room 3202. A reception will follow the dedication. 

The advising center is made possible thanks to a gift from the Mourot family. Across two generations, there are four U of A chemical engineering graduates in the Mourot family — all of whom graduated while Dr. Turpin taught at the university. The department thanks Michael (B.S.Ch.E.'76, M.S.Ch.E.'77) and Janet Mourot, Joshua (B.S.Ch. E.'03) and Rebecca Buckmaster Mourot (B.S.Ch. E.'03), Jordan (B.S.Ch. E.'05) and Valerie Varner Mourot, and Alex and Mallory Mourot Garcia for their generous support and remembrance of Jim Turpin. 

Turpin received his B.S and M.S. degrees in chemical engineering from the U of A in 1960 and 1961. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1966. He married Joyce in 1963, and upon his graduation, they made their home in Fayetteville, where Jim taught chemical engineering at the U of A until his retirement in 2009. 

At the heart of the advising center is Turpin's legacy of mentorship. Remembered by the Mourot family as a "transformational mentor," as described by Joshua, Turpin provided guidance tailored to his students due to his ability to get to know each one personally. Turpin was recognized for his ability to connect with students throughout his career with numerous accolades. Those include the U of A Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award in 1982, the AIChE National Outstanding Student Chapter Advisor Award winner in 1988, the Catalyst Award for Excellence in Teaching by the Chemical Manufacturer's Association in 1991, the Carnegie Foundation Arkansas Professor of the Year in 1996 and the College of Engineering Outstanding Service to Students Award in 2003. 

Turpin was a member of the inaugural class of the Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers in 2005. He was also a founding member of the U of A Teaching Academy and a co-director of the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center. 

"Dr. Jim Turpin served the university well, as a distinguished alum, but most memorably as a wonderful professor and student adviser," said Keisha B. Walters, professor and department head. "When remembering Dr. Turpin, our former students routinely talk about the extra time, attention and advice he gave each and every student who came to him with a question, concern or need. I cannot think of a more fitting remembrance of him than dedicating space for student advising in his honor."  

Turpin passed away in 2019 and is survived by his wife, Joyce Turpin; two sons, Tracy Turpin and wife Amy, and Terry Turpin and wife Kirsty; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. 

About the Department of Chemical Engineering: Chemical engineering has been a part of the University of Arkansas curriculum since 1903. Today, the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering has an enrollment of over 300 students in its undergraduate and graduate degree programs and houses five endowed chairs and eight endowed professorships to support its faculty. Faculty expertise includes cellular engineering, chemical process safety, advanced materials, and membrane separations. A wide range of fundamental and applied research is conducted in the areas of energy, health, sustainability and computational chemical engineering. The department is also home to the Chemical Hazards Research Center and is one of three national sites for the Membrane Science, Engineering, & Technology (MAST) Center. The Department of Chemical Engineering is named for alumnus Ralph E. Martin (B.S.Ch.E.'58, M.S.Ch.E.'60) in recognition of his 2005 endowment gift.