Marcia L. Turner currently serves as vice chancellor of operations and chief operating officer for the University of Nevada Health Sciences System (UNHSS), a program designed to promote the advancement of more than 200 health science related programs throughout the eight institutions of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE).

Turner manages the planning and development activities of this new organization, including fostering the development of NSHE health science programs, facilitating the development of partnerships with external health care stakeholders and working to help secure additional resources to support these critical health professional education programs throughout Nevada. Turner also oversees the development of a $157 million state-wide capital improvement project that would add critical educational, training and research facilities in northern and southern Nevada.

Prior to joining the UNHSS, Turner served as the director of government relations for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). In this role, she served as the chief liaison between UNLV and local and state elected officials and agency representatives on a variety of higher education policy issues.

Prior to UNLV, Turner was the assistant administrator for intergovernmental relations for the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (UMC). At UMC, Turner was responsible for managing all local, state and federal government relations efforts, involving a wide spectrum of health care policy initiatives.

Turner has also served as the public affairs manager for the City of Las Vegas and managed various public participation, government relations and communications efforts, such as the “second-straw-in-the-lake” multi-billion drinking water treatment facility and the Las Vegas Springs Preserve for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and Las Vegas Valley Water District.

Turner completed a National Health Fellowship Program with the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems. She holds a bachelors degree in communications and philosophy from the University of San Diego, a masters degree in communications from UNLV and she is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in environmental science, with an emphasis in environmental policy and management at UNLV.