Orlando L. Taylor, 1957
B.S., Denison University
M.A., Indiana University Bloomington
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Ph.D., Denison University
President and Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
District of Columbia
Citation awarded June, 2012
Orlando L. Taylor is currently President of the District of Columbia Campus of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and the institution’s Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU). Prior to these appointments, he was Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Dean at Howard University.
At Denison, Orlando pursued studies in communication, sociology and psychology. After leaving Denison, he pursued graduate study in communication sciences and disorders at Indiana University and later at the University of Michigan where he received the Ph.D. degree in 1966.
Over the years, Orlando has played a major role within his home discipline and in American higher education. He is the author of numerous publications and is recognized by many as a national leader in graduate education. In addition, he has served as a member of numerous national boards in higher education, including the Boards of Directors of the Council of Graduate Schools and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
He currently co-chairs the National Advisory Board for the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning at the University of Wisconsin. He is also a current member of the Board of Directors of the Oak Ridge Associated Universities and of the Advisory Council for the Geosciences Directorate at the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Orlando is the Past President of the National Communication Association, the Consortium of Social Science Association and the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools. He has been a leader in several national initiatives in higher education. He has been a particularly vigorous advocate and spokesperson on topics and issues relating to access and equity in higher education and to preparing the next generation of college and university faculty.
Denison University awarded Orlando an honorary doctoral degree in 2009. He has received honorary doctorates from several other universities and the University of Michigan has awarded him that university’s distinguished alumni award.
Orlando has two wonderful children, Orlando II and Ingrid, born to him and his late wife, Loretta. He credits Denison with having laid the foundation for his academic pursuits and his passionate commitment to cultural diversity, interdisciplinarity and social justice.
