In Memoriam: Orlando L. Taylor (1936-2024)

In January, the CGS community lost a tireless advocate for graduate education. Orlando L. Taylor, distinguished senior advisor to the president of Fielding Graduate University, passed away on January 16, 2024 after a life of service to his field, communication, and to higher education.

Dr. Taylor was known in the CGS community for many things: his warm smile, his encouragement of his colleagues, his important scholarship, and his commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. Over his lifetime, he mentored countless students of diverse backgrounds on their paths to and through master’s and doctoral degrees. These qualities and his passion for service made him an excellent leader as CGS board chairman in 2001, a board member from 1999-2002, and a member of several committees, leaving a lasting impact on our organization.

Dr. Taylor held a variety of leadership roles throughout his career. In addition to serving as president of the National Communication Association, he served as president of the DC campus of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and held a variety of leadership roles at Howard University, including the position of graduate dean.

A longer tribute to Dr. Taylor’s life and career can be found on the Fielding University website. In the final year of his life, Dr. Taylor served as editor of Higher Education In a Changing World (Fielding University Press, 2023).