Staff Spotlight: Meet Angela Turk, a meticulous program manager contributing to administration at USC for over 30 years

Angela Turk is a program manager in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences (PPHS) at Keck School of Medicine of USC. She joined USC in 1989 as a receptionist for the Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research (IPR) in the Department of Preventive Medicine. “At the time, we were located in Pasadena, CA, where I lived and the commute couldn’t have been more convenient—it took me about five minutes to get to work,” she recalls. “Some of the people I met in my first week are still close friends who I consider family.” In addition to other responsibilities and major events, Turk annually organizes the vibrant and well-executed undergraduate commencement ceremony for students at Keck School of Medicine. Read about her time here at USC.

Describe the beginning of your career at USC?
After moving to Los Angeles from Washington to be closer to my sister, I interviewed for a receptionist position with IPR. Over time, I advanced through various departmental roles, moving up to Department Secretary and eventually Assistant to the Director.

I briefly left Los Angeles but was enticed to come back again to work as administrative support on a tobacco grant with Luanne Rohrbach, PhD. I worked with many PhD students and postdocs who were involved in data collection, and it was fun. When that grant ended, I was approached by the institute’s director to provide administrative support for a new undergraduate program that was being developed—this is now what we know as the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Global Health undergraduate programs. In total, I have now been with this program for about 28 years.

What are your main responsibilities?
I run the day-to-day administrative operations for our undergraduate program. Some of my job responsibilities include planning, scheduling, program evaluation, policy implementation, personnel administration, and budgeting. I have the privilege of working directly with the Program Director Heather Wipfli, PhD; student advisor, Dinh Nguyen; Vice Chair for Education Roberta McKean-Cowdin, PhD; and Director of Student Affairs, Rose Park, PhD. I truly appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with such a dedicated and amazing team of individuals.

What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy my job for so many reasons but most of all, the people. I have worked closely with the most phenomenal faculty, staff, and students—many who have come and gone throughout the years but will forever remain in my heart. Being part of the PPHS family has been both a privilege and an honor and what makes my job so fulfilling.

I truly enjoy organizing and attending events like our ‘New Student Welcome’ and ‘Trojan Family Weekend.’ These occasions allow me to connect with our incredible students and their families, who trust us to support their children throughout their journey at USC. I always treat our students as if they are my child and strive to provide them with the care and guidance I would want for my own.

What are you currently working on?
Our biggest event of the year is USC Commencement in the spring. This is a significant undertaking that requires extensive planning, typically beginning at least 7-8 months in advance. I am incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of our program administration and the entire student affairs team. We work collaboratively to ensure our students have the most meaningful and memorable experience possible. While there have been a few challenges along the way, everything always comes together seamlessly in the end.

What are you proudest about your time here?
One of the things I am proudest of in my job is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our students’ experiences at USC. From welcoming them as new students, to celebrating their accomplishments at commencement, I take great pride in being a source of support throughout their journey. I am part of a team that strives to create a welcoming environment where students feel valued. Seeing their growth and achievements is so rewarding and knowing that I play a role in shaping their experience makes me very proud.

I also take great pride in my organizational skills which are essential to facilitate smooth program operations, organize meaningful events, and ensure that our faculty and staff have the resources they need to focus on teaching, mentoring, and inspiring our students. Knowing that my work contributes to their success and the overall excellence of our program gives me a deep sense of fulfillment.