Get to Know New Pardee School Dean Scott Taylor
On September 1, 2022, Dr. Scott Taylor – former Professor and Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service – was named the new Dean of Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. Students had a chance to speak to Taylor at the school’s Welcome Back event on September 8; however, for those who were unable to attend or speak with the Dean, we wanted to offer some insights into who the Pardee Shool’s new leader is.
We sat down and spoke with Taylor to get a better sense of who he is, what motivates him and his work, as well as what his vision is for the future of the school.
Where did you grow up?
Taylor: I am originally from New York City. I was born and spent my early years there, before moving up to Westchester County, NY, where I grew up, about 35 miles from Manhattan.
What motivated you to pursue a career in academia?
Taylor: I started my professional life as a corporate banker, but always felt like a fish out of water in that field. I studied Africa and political science in college, and I had a strong desire to return to that work professionally. A Ph.D. in political science with a focus on Africa allowed me to both produce knowledge and share it with students in the classroom.
I got interested in academic administration and leadership, and recognized its potential for spurring big change, as director of African Studies at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, and more recently in serving as Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclussion (DEI).
What is it about international affairs and global studies that has kept you engaged as a scholar throughout your career?
Taylor: When I started studying Africa, the people, the issues, the continent itself seemed, literally, a world away. Though I know now that that was never really true, today the world is a very small place. Our problems are shared; the solutions to those problems must also be shared (though the proportions may differ). I find that interconnection – “globalization,” in every sense of the word – intrinsically fascinating.
If you had just won an all-expense paid trip to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Taylor: I’ve had the privilege of traveling to and living in a number of countries, and there are many more I’d like to visit. With an unlimited budget, the place I’d most like to visit is Antarctica. Given the pace of climate change, the rapidly accelerating risks to the ice shelf, and the consequences for the globe, the continent represents past, present and, if we’re not exceedingly careful and very lucky, the future, all in one place.
What is your favorite book, movie, and television series?
Taylor: Favorite book? That’s an impossible question for an academic! There are far too many, across a range of genres and disciplines. One excellent one I read recently – I was late in starting it since it came out in 2020 – is Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, at least among nonfiction books.
Movie easily Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. I’ve been a huge Star Trek fan for decades – original series, though. Guess that answers the TV question, too, but I think The Expanse (more sci-fi!) and Blackish are more recent favorites, the first because it is basically “IR for the space age,” and the latter because it delivers valuable social commentary with hilarity.
What drew you to the position of Dean at the Pardee School? What about Pardee specifically interested you?
Taylor: Pardee is a very new school and part of one of the country’s top research universities. I am drawn by Pardee’s goal of advancing global human progress, something that has animated much of my career. The Pardee School also has outstanding faculty, students, and staff, all of whom are eager to innovate and enable the school to reach its enormous potential. With such eager and talented partners, the job’s appeal was that much greater.
What do you feel sets the Pardee School apart from other schools of global affairs, and how do you hope to expand on its unique characteristics?
Taylor: Pardee’s newness is a genuine advantage. We are not bound to “tradition” or staid institutional culture. Instead, Pardee is growing and building – both figuratively and literally – and we are limited only by our imaginations of what a leading school of global affairs should be in the 21st century. Moreover, we are located in a global city with a rich history and surrounded by educational talent. We can leverage that geography, not just in attracting great students to campus, but in appealing to global leaders and others to participate in our activities, whether as visitors, or as members of our community.
What do you see as the future of the Pardee School?
Taylor: To be a recognized leader in international affairs education, nationally and globally. That means continuing to be a hub for outstanding scholarship and teaching, attracting a diverse array of first-rate students and producing graduates who have positive impact on human development, in the broadest sense, on a global scale.
What immediate actions will you take as Dean to move Pardee closer to your ultimate vision?
Taylor: We need to ensure that we right-size our administrative staff to move the institution forward, provide resources that enable our faculty to continue their outstanding research, and fill our faculty vacancies with outstanding scholar-teachers.
What do you think should be done to expand or diversify the field of global studies, and how do you feel the Pardee School can be at the forefront of that change?
Taylor: Global studies, despite its focus, tends to be a non-diverse field, particularly in U.S. institutions. We need first to recognize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in international affairs, and its intrinsic linkages to development, peace, and improving outcomes. As these are values that are in synch with Pardee’s goals, we need to be sure to enshrine them in everything we do, from our course offerings, to who we are as a community, to our institutional culture. Schools like Pardee must lead by example.
Scott Taylor is among our nation’s most respected scholars in African politics and political economy, with a particular focus on business-state relations, private sector development, governance, and political and economic reform. Prior to coming to BU, Taylor taught at Smith College and most recently at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, where he was also Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the International Advisory Board for the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR), and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Endowment for Democracy. Read more about Dean Taylor on his Pardee School faculty profile.