Leonard Taylor
A Wisconsin native, Leonard D. Taylor Jr. came to Starkville prior to the fall 2016 semester after receiving a doctorate from the University of Minnesota in organizational leadership and policy development.
Most recently honored by the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education with its 2017 Dissertation of the Year Award, Taylor also holds two degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Having never lived in the South, Taylor admitted he was, at first, apprehensive about Starkville.
鈥淥ne of the things I appreciate the most so far about Mississippi State is just how much people want to talk to you, and how they truly mean it,鈥 he said.
He also believes Starkville is a very charming town that 鈥渋sn鈥檛 lacking anything.鈥澨
An assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, housed within the university鈥檚 College of Education, Taylor鈥檚 primary research focus is on how higher education administrators, faculty and staff members utilize data and promising practices to enhance student success and improve quality, quantity and diversity of U.S. graduates.
鈥湺喽嘀辈 has so many offices and different resources available to students for success on our campus,鈥 Taylor said.
He said that because of these abundant resources, he has definitely noticed the familial relationships between faculty, staff, alumni and students on campus.
Teaching a variety of classes within the student affairs and higher education realms, Taylor interacts with many students on a daily basis.
鈥淚鈥檝e never felt this at home in a job or an institution in my entire career,鈥 said Taylor. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something about Mississippi State鈥攊t鈥檚 definitely family in a way.鈥
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