Chevese Turner

Recognizing the need for an organization to advocate on behalf of those with binge eating disorder (BED) and the providers who treat them, Chevese Turner founded BEDA in 2008. She expanded on her effort to serve the eating disorder community more fully in 2010 by forming a partnership with respected clinician and thought-leader Amy Pershing, LCSW, ACSW to found Pershing Turner Centers (PTC) of Annapolis, Maryland.
Turner’s experience is well-rounded and encompasses health care policy, sales and marketing, federal lobbying, and various leadership positions in the non-profit arena. Much of her career, thus far, was spent working on behalf of cancer patients, which allowed Turner to hone her advocacy skills and meet her need to “work for a cause.” Both BEDA and PTC further fulfill the commitment to utilize her experiences and talent to “pay forward” the help and encouragement she received during her long journey to and through recovery from her own eating disorder.
As a board member of the Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders Association (ANAD) and a member of the advisory board for Mentor Connect, an eating disorders mentoring and education organization, Turner contributes her time and energy to the entire spectrum of those who struggle. She is a well-known speaker who, through her own story of recovery, addresses issues as related to eating disorders, obesity, body and self-esteem, weight-stigma, and advocacy.
Turner received a BA in Political Science from Temple University. She is currently a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders, the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, the National Eating Disorders Association, and the Eating Disorders Coalition.
Turner lives in Severna Park, MD, with her husband and two beautiful sons.