ATHENS, Ohio (Sept. 1, 2005) -- G. Christine Taylor, Ph.D., has been named assistant to the president for diversity at Ohio University, effective immediately. She had served in the position on an interim basis since September 2004.
"I am excited to have the opportunity to continue laying the groundwork for change in the area of diversity at Ohio University," Taylor said. "America is currently facing some critical issues concerning access to education, so it is gratifying to know that I will have an opportunity to make an impact in that area in the coming years as the university grows in the area of diversity."
During her interim year in the position, one of Taylor's major accomplishments was developing and implementing the Urban Scholars program. The 13 incoming freshmen from disproportionately represented racial groups were chosen out of approximately 300 students who expressed interest in the first-year scholarship program designed to increase the enrollment of students from urban areas.
Last year, Taylor played a leadership role in developing many of the institutional strategies that have led to an increase in the number of African-American, Hispanic, Latino and Native American students in the 2005-06 first-year class. The number of African-American students in this year's class will be nearly 100 more than last fall.
Taylor will provide the institutional leadership for implementing the diversity component of the university's new Vision Ohio Strategic Plan. She will continue collaborating with university staff members responsible for minority student recruitment, retention and scholarship programs and is continuously working to improve the support services for minority students.
"It is vital that we maintain our focus on achieving greater diversity within Ohio University's community, and Dr. Chris Taylor brings wonderful energy, experience and understanding of the challenges we face to create a more diverse campus," said Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis. "She has demonstrated her passion and commitment to diversifying this campus, not only through her work recruiting our first class of Urban Scholars but also the increase of multicultural students attending our university this fall. She will be a dynamic leader in her new role."
Since joining Ohio University in 1991, Taylor has also worked as the associate director of residence life, director of multicultural programs and most recently, as an associate vice president for finance and administration. Prior to her work in higher education, Taylor worked in the public broadcasting industry in several capacities.
In addition, Taylor was the project coordinator for the Synergy Team, a university-wide initiative that focused on multicultural student recruitment and retention at Ohio University. During the 2002-03 academic year, she served as a fellow at Georgia State University in Atlanta for the American Council on Education. The fellowship is the premier higher education leadership program in the nation.
Taylor, a Harriman, Tenn., native, earned a doctorate in mass communications and a master's degree in telecommunications management from Ohio University and a bachelor's degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
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Media Contact: Media Specialist George Mauzy, (740) 597-1794 or mauzy@ohio.edu
Editors: A photo of Taylor can be found at www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/TAYLOR_CHRIS2.JPG
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