Ms. Turner-Gootzeit has been an active member of the ZNO Community Service Fund since its inception in 1982. She graduated from Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, and later obtained a master’s degree in education from Hunter College, NY, NY. She is currently employed by the Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics, Inc. as a Residential Administrator.

Ms. Turner-Gootzeit is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc. She is president of the Board of Directors of Creative Lifestyles, Inc., a nonprofit agency serving the disabled adult community, and she is a life member of the National Council of Negro Women.

Denise is married to Elias S. Gootzeit, and together they have one son, Dr. Aaron Gootzeit, who resides in Santa Rosa, California.