Viking Views 2023

LaTonya (Blanden) Turner ‘86

Dr. LaTonya (Blanden) Turner graduated with a degree in mass communications. She holds a master’s in education from Indiana University and earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership from Indiana State University. She was a member of the track team and a founding member of Psi Alpha Psi. She worked at the campus radio station, hosting her own radio show, and worked behind the scenes for the campus TV station. For more than 25 years as a professional educator, Dr. Turner has always sought to ensure every student, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic standing, was amply equipped to maximize their potential and serve the greater good. She is currently the dean of the Fred S. Klipsch Educators College at Marian University and is the first African American dean there. Dr. Turner and her husband, Nate, live in Zionville, Ind. and have a son who lives and works in New York. Omar AlRefae is a 2016 graduated with a degree in computer information systems. During his time as a student, he was involved with the men’s basketball program and Student Government Association, and he served as a hall director for student affairs. During the summer months, he worked in the registrar’s office. After graduating, Omar became a staff member and won the President's Staff Excellence Award in his first year of employment. He became an integral part of campus, developing custom software to fill gaps that existing software couldn't provide. Omar had a vision for constantly improving Missouri Valley and worked tirelessly to accomplish that. He became CIO at age 27, and sat on the president's cabinet. He earned a master’s degree in computer science at Georgia Tech University, where his keystone project was selected by a healthcare startup affiliated with the Harvard School of Business. Omar is now the director of enterprise applications at Washington University in St. Louis.

Omar AlRefae ‘16

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