Cal State Long Beach officials announced the selection of Carmen Tillery Taylor as the new vice president for student services. The position has been open since August.
Currently, Taylor serves Indiana State University as vice president for student affairs and dean of students, according to a campus news release on May 20. She has 28 years of experience in student services, according to the CSULB website.
At Indiana State University, Taylor oversees programs and organizations such as the Student Counseling Center, Student Conduct and Integrity, the African American Cultural Center and the Office of Student Activities and Organizations, according to the press release.
“I have loved my time at Indiana State, and appreciate the experiences there that have prepared me to join the dynamic leadership team at ‘The Beach,’” Taylor said in the press release. “I look forward to greater challenges and opportunities to promote the student experience and student success.”
Incoming CSULB President Jane Close Conoley said she appointed her experience in the student services field. “Another good thing about Dr. Taylor is that she collaborates — or that she’s a really good partner with academic affairs,” Conoley said.
Taylor holds a connection between student life and academic affairs, which Conoley said are two things that should not be separate.
“I was really looking for somebody who has the same philosophy as I have,” Conoley said.
Taylor, who will replace retiree Doug Robinson, competed with a pool of other candidates across the nation for the position.
Current interim vice president for student services, Mary Ann Takemoto, will pass on her duties to Taylor around July 28, according to the news release.
Taylor’s duties will include leadership, strategic direction in services, policies and procedures relating to student services. She will also serve as a senior advisor to the president, according to the CSULB website.
Overall, Conoley said that people from CSULB will be “delighted” to meet Taylor. She’s just a warm [and] very engaging person,” Conoley said. “I think she’ll bring a new perspective — which is always healthy for any organization.”