Who we are

Turner Insights is a research and evaluation firm that operates at the intersection of rigorous social science and cutting-edge data technology. Founded by a team of doctoral-level experts, we provide mission-driven organizations with the tools and insights needed to solve complex policy challenges and improve lives.

Our Team

AshLee Turner, Ph.D.

Founder & Principal Researcher

AshLee is a researcher and policy analyst specializing in mixed-methods evaluation and implementation science. Her professional identity is deeply informed by her lived experience as a former foster youth from South Louisiana, which drives her commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable populations through evidence-informed policy.

With a Ph.D. and MPP in Social Policy from the University of Minnesota, AshLee has spent over a decade transforming research into actionable policy.

Her background includes:

  • Leading large-scale research projects and pioneering multi-phase survey protocols at an international consulting firm.

  • Serving on Project Quality Assurance Councils to ensure social programs are both effective and rigorous.

  • Implementing participatory research models that center the voices of the individuals and communities being served.

  • Advancing evidence-informed institutional transformations in the areas of child abuse prevention, housing, and economic mobility.

AshLee brings a "human-centered" perspective to Turner Insights, ensuring that every policy solution is rooted in rigorous truth and lived experience. She is passionate about using evidence to break systemic cycles, building a more equitable future for the communities our clients serve.

Chief Technology Officer

JT Turner, Ph.D.

JT is an expert in Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Artificial Intelligence. With a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, he serves as a technical architect, finding modern solutions to problems once thought decades away.

JT’s career spans deep technical research and practical application, including:

  • Developing advanced AI models and predictive analytics for military, medical, and financial sectors.

  • Holding a U.S. Patent for innovative work in processing digitized handwriting.

  • Specializing in algorithmic decision-making and the alignment of automated systems with human user profiles.

  • Implementing high-fidelity simulations and large-scale data infrastructures that drive operational efficiency.

JT brings a "bleeding edge" perspective to Turner Insights, ensuring that our clients have access to the most sophisticated data science tools available today