Edie Turnbull was drawn to Admission Possible, an organization that helps low-income students gain admission and succeed in their college careers because it allows her to be “part of the solution for Milwaukee education issues.” Turnbull became executive director of Admission Possible on Nov. 14.
The program offers student workshops as well as intensive coaching and support provided by AmeriCorps members.
“Helping low-income students get into college benefits them, their families, their descendants and all the rest of us,” Turnbull said. She will guide all of the activities of the nonprofit organization — which will change its name to College Possible™ in January — and lead a team of 22 AmeriCorps members and four full-time staff members.
“We are thrilled to welcome Edie to the Admission Possible team,” said Jim McCorkell, founder and CEO of the organization, which began in Minneapolis-St. Paul and expanded to Milwaukee in 2008.
“Edie’s leadership skills and experience in nonprofit development and communications will make her an incredible asset.”
Most recently Turnbull was director of fund development for SHARP Literacy, a Milwaukee nonprofit that helps urban elementary students learn to read and write. Before that, Turnbull was vice president of Public Affairs, Marketing & Communication at Wisconsin Lutheran College. She has worked in the same field for several Milwaukee companies, including the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and M&I Bank.
Raised in Des Moines, Turnbull received a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University. She returned to Milwaukee after receiving her master’s degree at the University of Iowa.
Admission Possible Milwaukee currently works with more than 350 low-income high school students. Turnbull said she looks forward to helping it grow by adding at least one city high school each year.
“Last year the admission rate for our students was 96 percent. Without this organization, many of them would probably not have made it into college and here they are, going to four-year institutions.”
