Passion drives everything Dr. Andy Turner does as a professor of biology, earth and environmental science at PennWest. It's what has driven his 25-year career studying northwestern Pennsylvania's lakes and streams and restoring waterways damaged by acid mine drainage.

"One thing we talk about a lot is finding your passion, finding something that you really love," says Turner. "You want to be able to move through your career and have enthusiasm for it, not just at the beginning, but in the middle and the end of your career as well. And I don't know that a lot of people can say that."

Growing up as a self-described "farm kid" in rural Ohio, Turner wasn't a stellar high school student. It wasn't until college that he found his wings. "The really fun thing about science to me is that you don't just learn facts, you learn the process," he explains. "The job of a scientist is to learn new things and discover new things. And I thought that was just the coolest thing ever."

After earning his Ph.D. and arriving at PennWest Clarion, Turner discovered an unexpected love for Western Pennsylvania. "I've learned that I really like Western Pennsylvania more than I ever dreamed I would when I first moved here," he shares. "I love the small town embedded in the forest environment here. Lots of access to open places and wild places."

His enthusiasm for teaching has only grown stronger over time. "Every year that I teach, I think I enjoy it more. I get into it more, I get more enthusiastic about it."

Turner's dedication extends beyond the classroom. His students regularly participate in hands-on environmental restoration projects throughout the region. "Those projects provide important learning opportunities for the students, but they're also providing a community service," he notes. "Slowly but surely, we are cleaning up these local streams. It's a neat example of how education and community service can go hand in hand for the benefit of both."

Turner's advice to young people? "Find your passion, find what gets you out of bed in the morning. These are hard professions. If you really want to be excellent, you have to be willing to work hard for a long period of time."