Iris Turkenkopf

Iris Turkenkopf, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., earned a doctorate degree in nutrition from Columbia University. She had a 39-year career at Mount Saint Mary College that included appointments as professor of biology and chair of the division of natural sciences. For nearly a decade, she served as academic dean of the college and vice president for academic affairs, before passing the torch to VPAA Mary Hinton in 2013. While pursuing an active research program in nutrition, she has worked throughout her career to advance science education at the Mount. Turkenkopf was co-principal investigator of a National Science Foundation award of about $200,000, to develop and implement mathematics and science courses for students in the college’s childhood education program.