College of Engineering Mourns Passing of Jim Turpin

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The College of Engineering is saddened to announce the passing of Jim Turpin, a University of Arkansas alumnus and longtime member of the chemical engineering faculty. He died Aug. 15, 2019.

Turpin received his B.S and M.S. degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1960 and 1961, respectively, and his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1966. He married Joyce in 1963, and upon his graduation, they made their home in Fayetteville where Jim taught chemical engineering at the University of Arkansas until his retirement in 2009.

During his distinguished career, he was the recipient of multiple teaching awards including the UA Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award in 1982, the Catalyst National Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1991, the Carnegie Foundation Arkansas Professor of the Year in 1996, and the College of Engineering Outstanding Service to Students Award in 2003. He was also a founding member of the UA Teaching Academy and a co-director of the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center.

More importantly, he made it his goal to personally know each of his students, and in doing so encouraged, mentored and profoundly impacted hundreds if not thousands of young lives. 

Neil Schmitt, dean emeritus of the College of Engineering, praised Turpin's contributions to the college.

"Dr. Turpin was dedicated and consistent," he said. "He was dedicated to being an excellent professor and student mentor. He consistently achieved those goals throughout his many years in the College of Engineering. As a teacher, he was a role model for new faculty. He was very well respected, not only within the university community, but nationally among his chemical engineering peers."

The funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, at University Baptist Church with burial to follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens under the direction of Moore's Chapel.