Igniting Passion. Infusing Purpose.

Christal-Joy J. Turner, Ph.D.

Christal-Joy “CJ” Turner is a Arlington, TX native has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a concentration of Research, Measurement, and Statistics from the University of North Texas with a strong passion for student success and matriculation at the collegiate level. With a love for helping others succeed, CJ is former Admissions counselor and Academic Coach for various colleges who has a passion for bridging the gap between students’ dreams and their realities.

By the time she graduated from Texas A&M University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience, CJ had served on many panels and given several workshops to many students and families on how they can be successful at the collegiate level and unlock their powers to be the best they can be. Through earning her Masters in Higher Education in Enrollment Management and Graduate Certification in Conflict Resolution Management from Abilene Christian University in 2017 and working in the field of higher education for the past 9 years , she cultivated an interest in promoting the importance of minority admission as well as retention into colleges/universities. This interest led to her pursuing and completing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Psychology with a concentration of Research, Methodology, and Statistics in May 2023.

CJ’s love for helping others grew to new lengths when she founded The Bridge by H.O.P.E (H.elping O.thers through P.ositive E.ducation) Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) organization based in Houston and Dallas, TX , with hopes that the program will impact the lives of minority, first generation students, providing them with the tools, skills, and motivation to be the best in all that they do. CJ has always thought of herself as the foundation of the bridge between her student's dreams and their realities and believes this foundation will not only eventually help the students in her local community, but statewide. As an educational advocate and statistics tutor, CJ has spoken to thousands of students and their families on the importance of their transition and igniting their passion while infusing her purpose and has also presented at numerous conferences on her research with the intent to better the field of education as we all know it.