Professor Turk started teaching at IUE in 1983 as an Associate Professor, moving up to a full-time Professor of History in 1990 and later a Professor of History emerita in 2003. She has a Ph.D. in Central European History with a minor in Comparative History, an M.A. in European History with a minor in Diplomatic History, and a B.A. in History with a minor in Political Science. Professor Turk attended the University of Wisconsin (1970-75) for her Ph.D., the University of Illinois (1968-70) for her M.A., the Christian Albrechts Universitat (1957-58) as a Fulbright Scholar, and the Ohio Wesleyan University for her B.A. (1953-57).

Professor Turk has earned the following awards, honors, and grants:

• "Eleanor L. Turk International Studies Scholarship Endowment" established by IU East to honor her retirement on May 6,  2003 
• IUE Teaching Excellence Recognition Award (TERA), 1999 
• IU East Chancellor's Honors List (1997) for preparation of North Central Report and dedication to improving IUE
• IUE Research Travel Grant for research on "The Germans of Kansas and the Great Plains: An Historiographical Analysis", June 2001 
• IUE Summer Faculty Fellowship 2000 for research as Visiting Scholar at German-Canadian Study Center, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada, June 2000
• IUE Faculty Professional Development Fund Grant for Immigration Field Research, South Australia, 1984
• Listed in Contemporary Authors Thompson Gale, 2004
• Five photography awards 
• IUE Library Mini-Grant to build collection of instructional videotapes in world history, February 1994 

Selected publications/presentations/lectures:

• Issues in Germany, Austria and Switzerland by Eleanor L. Turk, first published in 2003 
• "German Immigration in the Midwest: Artifacts in Print" Midwest Open Air Museum Coordinating Council Regional Conference, Richmond IN, March 1997 (Invited Presentation) 
• "Historian" IUE History Seminar September 2010 and October 16 2008 (Invited Lecture) 

Other accomplishments: 

• Developed several courses for IUE curriculum 
• Involved in Women's Fund Committee which helped establish women's fund in Wayne County Foundation, 2004 
• Wayne County Arts Consortium, Richmond, Founding Member of Board 1985-89, Treasurer 1986-89 
• First female chair of the Humanities and Social Sciences department