Inside Education and Health Sciences

Amie Lee Taylor, professor emerita in the Department of Counselor Education and Human Services, died July 10.

Taylor came to UD in 1981 in what she described as "the best decision I ever made." She was an associate professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Human Services until her retirement in 1997. She received her bachelor’s degree from Central State University in 1957, master’s degrees from Miami University in 1970 and the University of Dayton in 1985, and a doctorate from Miami University in 1985. She was active in the training of students in the school and community mental health counseling programs and was known as a superior teacher and advisor.

"Dr. Taylor was supportive of students and always maintained the highest of academic standards," said Alan Demmitt, associate professor in counselor education. "Dr. Taylor modeled integrity, fairness and dedication to the students and UD."

Taylor was believed to be the first Black woman to earn tenure at the university. She was a true champion of diversity on the campus, helping recruit, support, encourage and mentor minority faculty and students, including music professor Donna Cox. 

Cox first met Taylor during her interview, and interacted with her frequently in her first few years at UD to discuss the tenure process and what evidence to collect and record to achieve tenure.

"She also encouraged us to get to know people on campus," Cox said. "Common wisdom advises pre-tenure faculty to keep to their departments, maintain a low profile, and dig into the work. Amie knew we would need our community. We maintained a close relationship until Amie left UD."

Taylor was honored as the UD School of Education Teacher of the Year in 1990 and the School of Education Service Award in 1994. In retirement, she continued to support the department's Eugene K. Moulin Student Awards given at the end of each academic year.

On the occasion of being honored as professor emerita at the president's recognition dinner in 1998, the Department of Counselor Education and Human Services wrote, "If all the positive words used to describe Dr. Amie Taylor by her friends, colleagues and students were compiled into a single list, that list would be as tall as Dr. Taylor herself and weigh even more. Some of those words would be scholar, researcher, friend, mentor, role model, champion, advocate, pioneer, leader, energetic, dynamic, and a whirlwind of enthusiasm." 

A memorial service took place in July. Read Amie Taylor's full obituary here.