Jennifer Smith Turner

JENNIFER SMITH TURNER is a New England born writer. She is the author of two poetry books; Lost and Found, Rhyming Verse Honoring African American Heroes published in 2007 and Perennial Secrets, Poetry & Prose published in 2003 and nominated for the 2004 Connecticut Book Awards. She recently finished her third poetry collection. Her work was included in Vineyard Poets, an anthology of poems by Martha's Vineyard writers, and in numerous literary publications. Her poems frequently appear in the Vineyard Gazette and she participates in poetry workshops in local schools. She was featured on National Public Radio’s Faith Middleton Show and Connecticut Public Television’s poetry evening. She served as a featured speaker at Yale University poetry reading and the University of Pennsylvania Kelly Writer’s House. Jennifer worked extensively in the public and private k-12 schools throughout Connecticut, bringing poetry to students and educators. Ms. Turner is the Former Acting President/CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation. She is the retired CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut. During her professional career she served as an appointed government official with the State of Connecticut and the City of Hartford, as a corporate and non-profit executive, and as a member of many academic and non-profit boards of directors. She retired to Martha’s Vineyard with her husband, Eric Turner, in 2012.