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Alumni Gazette

Tiffany Taylor Smith 鈥�91 was raised in Dayton, Ohio, and attended high school in the predominately white suburb of Kettering. As she was growing up, her parents encouraged her and her siblings to get involved in whatever they could. From softball to Girl Scouts to school plays, they did it all, and it never mattered that they were usually the only black children there.

Being at ease with all types of people came to Taylor Smith at an early age. She credits cultural curiosity as a key aspect of her outlook, contributing to a 25-year career in corporate and academic worlds, where she focused on building diverse and culturally inclusive communities.

This fall, Taylor Smith was named the University of Dayton鈥檚 inaugural executive director for inclusive excellence, education, and professional development. Returning to her native city, she oversees an effort to promote and enhance intercultural competence, diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence at an institution that has 2,600 full-time and part-time faculty and staff and more than 10,000 students.

A member of Rochester鈥檚 Diversity Council and former cochair of the University鈥檚 New York City Metro Leadership Council, Taylor Smith has also served on several metro women鈥檚 groups.

How do you define your new role?

I create and facilitate professional development programs for faculty and staff around diversity, equity, and inclusion. We鈥檙e lucky鈥擠ayton鈥檚 been actively engaged in this work for a while. What we need to do now is to coalesce efforts from across every academic and nonacademic unit.

What was the catalyst for this new position?

Dayton鈥檚 leadership is one reason. Eric Spina became our president in 2015, and my boss, Larry Burnley, joined in 2016 as Dayton鈥檚 first vice president for diversity and inclusion. Both leaders were already champions of diversity and inclusion. Another reason I was drawn to Dayton is because of our commitment to the 鈥渃ommon good.鈥� This principle is rooted in our Catholic Marianist values, which are based on the idea of an education grounded not just in the faith but also in service and justice and change. That reminds me of Rochester鈥檚 commitment to Meliora. Growing our diversity and inclusiveness programs aligns perfectly with doing what is best for all.

How do you define diversity and inclusion?

Diversity is about what we bring to society. Our race, gender, sexual orientation, and anything in our background, history, or physical make-up add to who we are鈥攖hey don鈥檛 take anything away. Diversity is about our individual uniqueness and our multiple dimensions.

Inclusion is action oriented. It鈥檚 about helping people feel authentically welcomed and valued. I often say inclusion is like this great big house where anyone can open the refrigerator, use the bathroom, or get a cup from the china cabinet. All those inside have equal access to everything.

Why are diversity and inclusion important?

We live in a very interesting time. So many people are seeing that the status quo isn鈥檛 serving anyone any more, that we have to address racism, sexism, ethnocentrism, and other key issues. We can鈥檛 place value on our differences鈥攚e must embrace them and see that, at our core, we all share something essential: our common humanity.

How did being a Rochester student influence you?

My eyes really opened up in college. I was part of the Black Students鈥� Union, a resident advisor, and always looked for ways to help people to get to know each other, get along, and see the best in the other person.

It was at college when I also met Dr. Paul Burgett 鈥�68E, 鈥�72E (PhD), who was dean of students when I was a psychology student and is now vice president and senior advisor to President Joel Seligman. I鈥檝e stayed in touch with him for 25 years. I remember that he always called his students 鈥淒r.鈥� So to me, he鈥檇 say 鈥淒r. Taylor.鈥� No one had ever addressed me like that before. In his eyes, we all could see what he thought we could become. That was so empowering. This is what I want for those I work with to see鈥攖hat we each have great potential and capacity to learn, grow, and work together. And, interestingly, I鈥檓 actually planning to start my doctorate in educational leadership in the fall.

Good Reads

Taylor Smith recommends two books:

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi, and Tribes by Seth Godin.

鈥淏oth are excellent. Kendi, who recently established an institute on racism at American University, offers such an informed perspective, and Godin鈥檚 book is an all-time favorite. It鈥檚 about finding community.鈥� 鈥擪ristine Thompson