Orlando Taylor, Ph.D.

Orlando L. Taylor is Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Research at Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara California and Director of its Institute for Social Innovation. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). Headquartered in Fielding’s Washington, DC office, Dr. Taylor was the Founding President of the Washington, DC Campus of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Prior to these appointments, he was a Graduate Professor at Howard University in Washington, DC where he also served in several senior leadership positions, including Dean of the School of Communications, Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Research.

Dr. Taylor has been a national leader for many years on issues pertaining to diversity and inclusion in higher education. He has been a particularly vigorous advocate and spokesperson on issues relating to access and equity in higher education and preparing the next generation of researchers, as well as faculty members, for the nation’s colleges and universities. Additionally, he has raised significant funds from federal agencies, foundations and philanthropists to support research, education and special initiatives that advance diversity in fields impacting directly upon the education, health and related needs of diverse individuals, organizations and communities.

He has served as Principal Investigator for more than $40 million in federally and privately sponsored research, graduate training and program development grants. Currently, Dr. Taylor is the Principal Investigator for a major grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) designed to advance women in the STEM fields into leadership positions at the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities and at Tribal Colleges.

Dr. Taylor is a nationally-recognized leader in graduate education and a prolific contributor to his field. He has authored approximately 75 publications in journals, books and monographs and is a Fellow and recipient of Honors from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In addition to his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, he also holds honorary doctorates from Purdue University, Indiana University, The Ohio State University, Hope College, DePauw University, Denison University and Southern Connecticut State University.