Leland Turner, Ph.D., is a historian specializing in West Texas history, global ranching frontiers, and environmental and agricultural history. He earned his doctorate in history from Texas Tech University and previously served as Associate Professor of History at Midwestern State University, where he taught from 2012 to 2024. Earlier in his career, he held a faculty appointment at Southwestern Oklahoma State University and was a Fulbright Scholar in Australia.
Turner’s scholarship explores the economic, environmental, and cultural connections between Texas and Australia, particularly through the lens of cattle ranching and frontier development. His publications include essays and articles on West Texas landscapes, frontier cattle economies, and transnational ranching networks, appearing in volumes such as West Texas: A History of the Giant Side of the State and journals including the Panhandle-Plains Historical Review and West Texas Historical Review. He is currently completing book-length projects on Murdo Mackenzie and on King Ranch cattle in the Australian grasslands.
A frequent conference presenter, Turner has shared his research with audiences at the Texas State Historical Association, the Agricultural History Society, and international studies organizations. His work highlights how ranching, migration, and environmental adaptation shaped regional identities in both Texas and the Australian Outback.
