Caroline Sotello Turner

Caroline Sotello Viernes Turner was born on October 4, 1945 in Lompoc, CA. Affectionately known as “Cookie” to her family, Caroline was raised in Hollister, CA by her mother, Gabriella Garcia (Sotelo) and father, Jose Garcia with her 7 siblings. After graduating from San Benito High School, Caroline attended UC Davis where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees followed by her PhD in Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University School of Education. She met her former husband, Terry Turner, and had two children, Ruby and Nathan, in Davis, CA. Subsequently, Caroline lived in several places where she held professorships - Edina, MN (University of MN), Phoenix, AZ (ASU), Davis, CA (Sacramento State) and, in retirement, recently moved to Irvine, CA.

Having grown up in a large family full of laughter and togetherness, Caroline was outgoing, she had a taste for adventure and enjoyed traveling the world, art, playing, dancing, movies, ice cream, Disney and sharing amazing meals, wine and good cheer with her family and friends throughout her life. Whether you were family, a life-long friend or a new friend, Caroline relished in every moment spent with you, in pictures and memories of your adventures together and talked fondly about her time with you.

Caroline placed high value on education and dedicated her life’s work to the pursuit of student access and equity in higher education. Through her many publications and awards, Caroline’s impact will be felt by generations of educators and education administrators to come. It was her true joy to teach, mentor and support budding doctoral students and she successfully advised more than 100 doctoral students to successful completion. Her work has contributed significantly to higher education and she taught, encouraged, and mentored many, past, present, and future leaders in the field. She often shared, “I grew up as a farm laborer doing field work. Now, as a professor and a qualitative researcher, I find it amusing that I still find myself doing field work.” Caroline was the recipient of many distinguished awards, including a recent lifetime achievement recognition in April 2024, the Presidential Citation of Excellence Award from the Council for the Study of Community Colleges. Notable other awards and recognition include her awards from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Scholars of Color in Education Distinguished Career Contribution Award (2009), the AERA Dr. Carlos J. Vallejo Memorial Award for Lifetime Scholarship (2009), the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Council on Ethnic Participation Mildred Garcia Award for Exemplary Scholarship (2008), the Mary Lou Fulton College of Education Dean’s Faculty Excellence Award (2008, 2009), and many other honors. In addition, she served as a Visiting Scholar with the Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research (SIHER) and was named a Distinguished Alumni Scholar by Stanford University and UC Davis. With almost 35 years as a published researcher, Caroline’s publications included a book entitled “Diversifying the Faculty: A Guidebook for Search Committees,” which is widely adopted selling over 15,000 copies nationally and internationally, a co-authored book entitled "Faculty of Color in Academe: Bittersweet Success," and a co-edited book, "Understanding Minority-Serving Institutions.” Her leadership was recognized various times having served as past President of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (2014), ASU Chicano/Latino Faculty & Staff Association (2007-2008), and the American Educational Research Association (2005-2006).

Caroline was preceded in death by her parents, Gabriella and Jose, two siblings, Rose Marie “Rosie” and Joe "Junior", and niece, Amanda. Caroline is survived by her children, Ruby and Nathan, grandsons, Dion (Yindra) and Ryan, great-grandson, Dion, five sisters, Elizabeth (Rick), Monica, Margaret, Diana (Phil) and Gloria (Doug), sister-in-law Debbie, and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. We will forever love and miss our Mom, Grandma, Sister, Auntie, Friend, Colleague, Mentor, and incredible Change-maker, Caroline Turner. May she soar!

Caroline’s Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Pacific View Memorial Park Legacy Chapel at 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona Del Mar, CA. Please help us celebrate her spirit by wearing bright colors.

To honor Caroline's contributions to higher education, the Dr. Caroline S. Turner Endowed Scholarship has been established at Sacramento State to support first generation and farmworker students. Please consider donating: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1894/19/home-hero.aspx?sid=1894&gid=2&pgid=418&cid=1063&bledit=1&dids=D881&dids=431