Maryland Public Television (MPT) announced today that Vera Turner has been named managing director, membership, in the statewide public television network’s Development Division.

In this role, Turner is responsible for growing MPT’s membership base, creating a mid-level giving program, and overseeing the network’s sustaining membership and vehicle donation programs. Turner reports to Vice President of Development, Linda Taggart.

In her most recent role, Turner was project manager for seven years at The School Superintendents Association were she spearheaded national education initiatives. Earlier, she served as associate director and, later, director of individual giving at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) for 13 years. In this role she provided fundraising consulting services to PBS member stations, helping them to increase fundraising capacity, membership, and revenue. Prior to that, Turner was director of basic membership programs for WNET in New York City and membership director at WQED in Pittsburgh. As a fundraiser, Turner helped to raise millions of dollars for public media.

As an entrepreneur, producer, and host of her own cable show, Turner garnered 11 Telly Awards for outstanding local and regional cable TV programming.

Turner is an alumna of Virginia Tech, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in urban studies. She also holds a master’s degree in public management from the University of Maryland, College Park.

She is a resident of Alexandria, Virginia.

About MPT

Launched in 1969 and headquartered in Owings Mills, MD, Maryland Public Television is a nonprofit, state-licensed public television network and member of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). MPT’s six transmitters cover Maryland plus portions of contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards, MPT creates local, regional, and national television shows. Beyond broadcast, MPT’s commitment to professional educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through year-round instructional events and the super-website Thinkport, which garners in excess of five million page views annually. MPT’s community engagement connects viewers with local resources on significant health, education, and public interest topics through year-round outreach events, viewer forums, program screenings, and phone bank call-in opportunities. For more information visit mpt.org.