New York, Jambalaya, and the Museum District: A Sunday Afternoon with Tyya Turner

By Terry Haycock

With this series of member profiles, we hope to enhance our knowledge of each other on personal as well as professional levels.

When a former New Yorker and former Chicagoan meet in Virginia, the conversation can’t help but include comparisons, contrasts, and appreciation for our Richmond metro area. Such was the case during my recent conversation with Tyya Turner, our newest VPC member. Although she hails from Franklin, Virginia, she spent 16 years in New York City, working in Manhattan while living in Brooklyn. Like so many VPC native Virginians, she has moved back home. Tyya and daughter Makayla live in the Museum District of Richmond.

As a college student, wanting the experience of living in a city larger than Franklin, Tyya studied journalism at Howard University in Washington, D.C., earning a BA. While at Howard, she completed an internship with the Pocket Books imprint of Simon & Schuster. “I was really more interested in working on books and magazines than at a newspaper,” Tyya said. Upon completing her degree, Tyya’s boss from her S&S internship offered her a job as a full-time editorial assistant in New York. There her duties included serving as an editor of their Star Trek series. Later, she held two part-time freelance jobs. When laid off from one, she chose to move back to Virginia. It was a decision based more on economics than nostalgia, but she loves being back home.

After several interviews with a “head hunter” regarding a “mysterious” unidentified client, Tyya found her current job as communications manager and journal editor for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, whose national headquarters is based in Richmond. Among others, her duties include copy editing messages sent to members, volunteers, and donors, and writing and editing their twice-a-year magazine. She has been with SPE for four years. Tyya’s eclectic resume also includes working for a trade magazine, a museum, and other interesting places. She can enlighten you on what they were at the next VPC meeting.

When she’s not working, Tyya likes to read — especially mysteries — and hang out with her 17-year-old daughter, Makayla. Their favorite pastimes include watching/critiquing TV shows and cooking. Her current favorite dish to make is jambalaya. “My daughter is tall but tiny,” Tyya said. She likes to eat, though, so that’s why I cook. If it were left to me, I probably wouldn’t be so adventurous!”

Tyya found VPC while searching the Internet for professional organizations and attended the fall conference earlier this month. She is delightful to speak to and, like all of our members, will bring much to VPC. Look for Tyya at the next VPC meeting to find out more about our new, vibrant member.