Dr. Julie Taylor excitedly paced parallel to the whiteboard during class. The effervescent professor stopped in her tracks, paused, and took a deep breath. She then turned to the students with a new and more serious expression.
“I have something I need to tell all of you all,” said Taylor
Immediately the students fixated their gaze towards Taylor. With an undivided attention, Taylor started to speak again. Her bubbly confident voice turned sensitive and shaky. Taylor revealed she has been offered a position to be in charge of the organizational communication concentration at California State University at San Bernardino. There was quiver in Taylor’s tone as she explains that she has accepted the position.
“I had a conversation with my partner telling him how I don’t want to leave my students. My partner then told me I have to take this opportunity and that all my students will eventually graduate and leave,” said Taylor.
Taylor explained how hard this decision was for her. Her eyes began to water and her voice distinctly trembles. In response, several students began to cry.
After being a professor at SUNY New Paltz for two academic years, Taylor yearned to teach more of organizational communication classes.
Although numerous students congratulated Taylor’s new employment opportunity, many expressed their sadness.
“I love her she's such an amazing teacher. I'm so sad that she's leaving but I'm happy that students across the country will be able to experience her classes because they are great,” said public relations student Mary Dellas.
In the windowless hallway of sterile white walls and iridescent lighting lies the oasis of Taylor’s office. Upon entering the comfy office, she looks up with a warm smile. Photographs of Taylor’s family, friends, partner and horse Rudy decorate the wall. The Colorado and Utah licensed plates proudly show her heritage while adorning the coffee brown walls. A jar of candy sits on the desk available for all to sample and enjoy.
Taylor has been on campus since 7 a.m. Her typical day includes waking up at 5 a.m. and starting her day with black coffee. After arriving at school, her day is nonstop. She works on lesson plans in between students and colleagues constantly stopping in her office to chat.
“People always comment that there is laughing coming from this office. I like to think I’m funny” said Taylor.
During her interview, Taylor reminisces her educational career. Taylor and her two siblings were raised in rural Gypsum Colorado. While attending Colorado State University at Fort Collins, she majored in Communication Studies, English and Secondary Education. After graduating Taylor became a high school teacher in Loveland Colorado.
Taylor explained that high school did not provide the connection with students that she desired. As time went on she could not see herself spending the rest of her professional career with high school students.
“I missed diving deeper into content and having that innate curiosity that college students have,” said Taylor
After offered a full scholarship at Colorado State for a master’s program, Taylor obtained a master’s degree in Communication and Women’s studies.
During her master’s program Taylor taught public speaking classes to students. This was when she began to create meaningful relationships with students. There are students from her first class that she has remained in contact today.
“If you as a teacher allow yourself to experience the relationship the students will have with you and give you to, it is amazing. It really is the gift that keeps on giving. There is nothing like it. Especially when you choose to have the bond that it will never go away,” said Taylor.
Taylor pursued a Ph.D. at the University of Utah after obtaining her master’s degree. This has been her proudest moment.
When applying for jobs, she sent applications to numerous colleges throughout the country. She first was offered a job at Utah but she changed plans during her teaching presentation at New Paltz. After the presentation, New Paltz professors confessed how surprised they were to see the high amount of participation that the students gave. They were astonished that the students were highly enthusiastic to participate, especially since Taylor was a stranger.
“There was just a connection with the students. There was something about the students’ energy and I could see myself in this place,” said Taylor.
"Dr. Taylor has been not only an incredible professor but also a mentor. She understands how to communicate effectively with us students and keep us engaged continuously with stories and activities that pertain to the subject. She makes a classroom environment feel fun and safe, even for those who don't normally have a voice in a classroom," said media management major student Sara Gharnit.
Taylor claims that her job is part of several aspects of her life, including her personal time. She spends countless hours planning lesson plans and finding useful readings and research topics to incorporate into her classes. During the weekends, Taylor supports her students by attending their sporting events and performances.
“I always tell my students that if they have something happening that is extracurricular to invite me. I go to volleyball, baseball, softball, and soccer games just to see people outside of the classroom,” said Taylor.
With her new job on the horizon, Taylor begins to plan and think about the future. She says that she is excited for the new transition in her life. This is an opportunity to make a home and build a community. She discloses that this will most likely be her last and final move. Taylor claims that she is nervous about the new students liking her and being capable of bonding with her new students like she has with her New Paltz students.
“The most challenging thing about leaving this place will most definitely be the students. I am going to get teary eyed about it but I hope my connection is the same there, I hope that I find similar students and I hope to find students that foster a similar curiosity,” Taylor’s voice becomes shaky again. “I do this job because of the students. It is the most rewarding job. You can’t qualify or quantify it. ”
“It has been a great learning experience working at New Paltz. There is a connection to content and to people that you are able to have in college that really inspires me to keep learning and inspires me to keep doing good work. I was so thankful for that experience,” said Taylor.
Pictured above Dr. Julie Taylor. Image by SUNY New Paltz
