Scott Taylor named chair of USG Staff Council
Scott Taylor, Assistant Vice President for Student Experience and current Georgia Southern Staff Council Chair, has been elected to lead the University System of Georgia’s (USG) Staff Council beginning in July.
Taylor will represent the USG Staff Council at all USG and Board of Regents meetings, preside over USG Staff Council meetings and chair the executive committee. He will also have an advisory role in the process of system governance by advising, recommending and consulting with the Chancellor or his designee(s) on policies and procedures deemed necessary to promote the general welfare of the University System of Georgia and its staff.
“I hope to be successful in representing Georgia Southern's values, particularly in the areas of Collaboration, Innovation and Inclusion,” Taylor said about the role. “So much of what we do as an institution has been recognized and heralded at the system level as best practices. I hope to be able to share our story and practices in a way that will help and inspire others.”
Taylor has served on Georgia Southern’s staff council for the past three years and will continue to do so after his current role as chair wraps up in July. During his time with Staff Council, he feels thankful to have been a part of so many activities and experiences.
“I can't say enough about those who I have served with on Georgia Southern's Staff Council, especially those who are often working behind the scenes,” Taylor said. “I'm not just talking about parties, picnics or recognition events. I'm talking about staff who pull together people and resources to support colleagues who are dealing with difficult situations or who have experienced a tragedy or loss.
“I have witnessed so many examples of quiet service to others, support outside of the workplace, meal trains and more,” he continued. “The most important service from the Staff Council is often that which is never seen, and I am grateful and humbled to have been able to serve with these colleagues and friends.”
Furthermore, Taylor looks forward to continuing this kind of service and encouraging student advocacy at the state level to employees at his own institution and across Georgia.
“My most effective advocacy for staff has always been tethered to my advocacy for students,” he said. “Ensuring that students have access to the programs and resources they need will largely depend on every institution's ability to take care of its people. This means sharing and getting others to adopt the vision of ‘Growing ourselves to grow others.’ If education is something that we value in our communities and we want our institutions to be able to adapt to the new learning economy, our investments need to reflect that.”
He most looks forward to learning in this new role, and he believes it will help him grow, and in turn grow others around him.
“It is amazing to see the amount of collective creativity and work that goes into helping our students and institutions succeed,” he said. “I have learned valuable lessons from every position I have been in and every committee that I have served on.”