Christopher “Topher” Merrill ’93, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Harrison Street, a Chicago-based global real assets investment management firm, is one of 12 recipients of the 2025 Horatio Alger Award. The award is given each year to individuals who have overcome challenges in business and life to become successful, and who have remained committed to higher education and community service.
Merrill was born to a military family stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. During his teen years, his mother suffered ongoing health issues combined with challenges related to divorced parents. Merrill earned a BA in economics at Roanoke, where he was a member of the golf team and Pi Lambda Phi fraternity.
During his Roanoke College years, Merrill interned at a Chicago-based real estate investment firm, where he developed the firm’s European strategy. As he earned an MBA at night at Cass Business School in London, Merrill became an early pioneer in the Central European real estate markets. In 2005, he founded Harrison Street, a pioneer in investing in alternative real estate asset classes. Under his leadership, the firm has grown to employ 300 people, has offices around the world, and boasts $56 billion in assets under management.
Merrill and his wife, Peyton, are passionate supporters of the Chicago community, including local organizations such as First Tee, Rush Hospital and Pancreas Cancer Foundation. They have supported the Horatio Alger Association and other educational missions by providing internships and scholarships. Merrill also has been a member of the Roanoke College Board of Trustees since 2023, and he serves on the board of the Salisbury School.
“It is an honor to join the prestigious network of members who comprise the Horatio Alger Association,” Merrill said. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to support the growth and development of tomorrow’s leaders.”
Merrill and fellow 2025 award recipients will be inducted into the Horatio Alger Association during an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. in early April.
Chris Turnbull ’00 has been named chief of staff for Carilion Clinic President and CEO Steve Arner. In his new role, he will focus on optimizing the work of the executive team, allowing them to remain strategic in their focus.
Turnbull has served Carilion Clinic for 10 years, most recently as senior director of the CEO Transition Team. Other roles he has held there include manager of public relations and senior director of corporate communications. As a trusted crisis communicator, he was part of the leadership team that helped Carilion navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Turnbull has also worked with global international development agencies and smaller communications and management consulting firms. In 2016, he received the Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America for his team’s response to the on-air shootings of two WDBJ7 journalists.
Turnbull holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Roanoke and an M.S. in management with a focus on leadership communication from the University of Maryland Global Campus. He is a member of Roanoke College’s President’s Advisory Board and treasurer of the board of directors for Cardinal News. He is also heavily involved in the Public Relations Society of America’s Blue Ridge Chapter and has been an adjunct professor at Roanoke.
We love to share good news about our alumni! Send updates about yourself or others to rcmagazine@roanoke.edu.