Smith professor follows passion with Music Management Fellows

                Right in front of the window looking out from Dr. Hugh Turner's office in Van Munching Hall, there is a beige Danelectro guitar leaning up against an amplifier.

                "That's here for my students when they come by, for conversation they can pick it up and play it," Turner said.

                Turner started the Music Management Fellows Program at the Smith school. Turner said it is a small program that is designed not to give students a full education in music management, but an introduction.  Turner said the program currently has 18 students enrolled.

                Turner's interest in music goes back to high school, when he listened to a wide variety of music. He also picked up the guitar, which he said he can play, but not well. He has also started collecting guitars, and said he has more than 12 guitars in his collection.

                Turner decided to begin the Music Management Fellows Program when he saw students interested in the industry. He also said it was a good opportunity for him to learn more about the music industry.

                "We've been very successful in building connections in the local Baltimore, Maryland, DC, Virginia area with the music industry," Turner said.

                Turner has been a teaching fellow at the Smith school since 2001, which means unlike other professors he does not do research, and instead focuses on teaching students, holding four or five classes per semester. Turner estimates he has taught more than 3,000 students.

                 "I got the opportunity here to go down the teaching path, and I just said absolutely, there's nothing else I want to do," Turner said.

                Turned received his MBA and his Ph.D. from Maryland.

                "The same instructors that were teaching me MBA classes in the mid-‘80s were my Ph.D.  professors for the Ph.D. program, my faculty advisors for my dissertation and now they are peers or colleagues," Turner said. "I've never wanted to leave because they're all great people, and it's just a great department to work for."

                Turner also is the Academic Coordinator for Freshmen Fellows. He enjoys working with Freshmen Fellows because it gives him a chance to introduce students who have decided to be business majors to the school and faculty, as well as break them into small communities.

                "I teach them their first business class as freshmen," Turner said. "In some cases their very first college course."