It’s 4 p.m. on a Friday, and Jim Turpen, Ph.D., professor of genetics, cell biology and anatomy, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and executive associate dean for graduate studies, is making balloon flowers just inside the entrance of a local Hy-Vee supermarket.
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James Turpen, Ph.D. |
And makeup. Very colorful makeup.
This afternoon Dr. Turpen, who will be retiring from UNMC later this year after a 34-year career, is pursuing his other passion — performing as the clown Ankor, a member of the Tangier Shrine Circus, which will be held in Omaha this week from Thursday to Sunday. (For more information or to purchase tickets to the circus, click here.)
As Dr. Turpen nears retirement from UNMC, his role at the circus — where he has been performing as a clown since 1996 — is transitioning, as well. He is now the circus chair, one of the members of a committee that is charged with putting together the whole circus.
It cuts into his clown time.
“When you’re in makeup, nobody takes you seriously and so I can’t do my job,” he said. “So I don’t clown at the circus anymore — I get my clown fix by coming to Hy-Vee and doing other kinds of gigs.”
With retirement on the horizon, Dr. Turpen also is considering joining the Road Runners, a group that transports patients to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Minneapolis. “They need people who can drive the vans and transport the patients, and I’m looking into doing that with some of my time, as well,” he said.
A respected and accomplished educator and administrator, Dr. Turpen draws on some of his professional skills — such as his talent for public speaking — in his clown persona. “But it’s a whole different world,” he said. “It’s a real escape from the kind of work that I do.”
But escape aside, Dr. Turpen doesn’t plan to leave the med center behind in retirement.
“I used to come with a bunch of my friends down to the med center and visit the kids in the hospital. I haven’t been able to do that, because I just don’t have time during the day,” he said. “So that will be one of the things that hopefully I’ll be able to do more often.”
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Carol Russell
Jim is a class act, one of UNMC's true stars. Great story!
Love you Ankor!
As an INBRE alumnus, I want to thank Dr. Turpen for his hard work with the program and for allowing me a chance to expand my horizons. Best wishes for retirement!
Dr. Turpen is a wonderful person, and UNMC has been so fortunate to benefit from his brilliance, humility and goodness.
I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with/for Jim. A phenomenal leader at UNMC. So glad to have gleaned much knowledge/wisdom from him!
Wonderful story! Love it!
Jim, Congratulations on a great career of service to UNMC and the community.