Turnage steps into the spotlight to receive the March DBT’s MVP Award
When your service to Mississippi College is primarily devoted to the institution’s virtual space, it may seem that your contributions to the University could be easily overlooked.
But Robert Turnage’s long hours of dedicated service and his willingness to pour his Christian values into his colleagues haven’t escaped MC President Blake Thompson’s notice.
MC’s director of web and creative communications may prefer to “fly under the radar” at work, but Turnage’s diligent attention to the MC website and virtual presence has garnered him the title of DBT’s MVP for March.
Thompson presented him the award on March 3 in the Office of Marketing and Communications in Nelson Hall.
“It’s an honor and a blessing,” the Madison resident said. “It means the world to me. I appreciate the fact that people notice and care and are supportive of what I do.
“It’s humbling to know that people think I’m doing a good job and helping the University in some way.”
Turnage was the only member of his office to be surprised by the presentation. Every one of his colleagues had nominated him for the honor.
“Robert’s service to MC supersedes his self interests,” said Jenny Tate, vice president of marketing and communications. “He is a well-respected colleague and professional who works diligently behind the scenes to ensure that MC’s website and creative assets best represent our institution and brand.”
The DBT’s MVP Award recognizes staff members who go “above and beyond” for MC students, faculty and their fellow staff members.
As the monthly winner, Turnage received a T-shirt, a parking spot of his choice on campus for a month, a $50 gift card, a print of internationally celebrated artist Samuel M. Gore’s work, and the right to display a bobblehead of Thompson and his trusty golf cart on his desk.
The idea of working at a Christian University intrigued Turnage, a 20-year veteran of an ad agency in Jackson. He took a leap of faith and joined Mississippi College in 2021.
“I figured it was time for something different, something new,” he said. “To be in a place where faith was a central component was very interesting to me.”
In addition to overseeing MC’s website, Turnage’s role has expanded to include print and other creative areas, but his outlook remains the same: he simply enjoys working with the Mississippi College family.
“Every department, every office that I’ve had the good fortune to encounter in doing our work has been gracious and considerate. Their main goal is what’s best for the student and the institution as a whole. But they’re not so focused on what they need done that it overrides their kindness and the love that they feel for others.
“The Christian mission is not lost.”
He said MC’s culture was a refreshing contrast to a workplace where the main focus is the bottom line and everything else takes a back seat.
“It was quite a shock,” he said. “At MC, we need to do things well, we need to prioritize, we need to do our jobs, but we don’t lose focus on the people and their needs.
“There’s genuine concern for one another.”
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