On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the Board of Trustees appointed John Wesley Taylor V as the president-elect of Andrews University following a review of the two final candidates submitted to the board by the Presidential Search Committee. Taylor will be the seventh president of Andrews University (25th overall since the university’s establishment as Battle Creek College), effective July 1, 2023.
John Wesley Taylor V has an extensive professional background in leadership, particularly within the Seventh-day Adventist church. He has held the positions of Associate Director of the Department of Education at the General Conference and Executive Secretary of the Adventist Accrediting Association. His background in higher education includes serving as a professor, dean, associate dean, and director of doctoral programs at various Adventist colleges, including Southern Adventist University, the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies in the Philippines, and Universidad de Montemorelos in Mexico. Taylor is an alum of Andrews University, holding both a PhD and master’s degree from his time here. He also holds an EdD from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. More information can be found on the president-elect here.
As some may know, there was a substantial amount of controversy surrounding the presidential election. On March 6, a day before the voting would take place, an article began circulating on social media. It spoke about the two then- candidates for president and addressed the factors leading to much of the discord surrounding the election. The article prompted discussions on campus about the now president-elect’s potential view on the values of diversity and inclusion, specifically as it relates to various cultural expressions by individuals of various races and nationalities.
From what I have gathered in conversation with various students on campus, many are concerned about the president-elect’s potential stance on diversity and inclusion and how these ideologies may affect us. According to the 2022-23 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, Andrews University is ranked the nation’s #1 campus for ethnic diversity (tied with the University of Hawaii at Hilo). Just this past weekend, the Andrews University Student Association held its second annual AUnited weekend, featuring a three-day-long celebration of the beautiful array of cultures represented on our campus. Each representative from these various cultures has something uniquely valuable to add to the richness of our flourishing intercultural community. The hope is that we can continue these and other efforts to celebrate the diversity we are privileged to experience here. I spoke with a student, who wishes to remain anonymous, about the discussion prompted by the aforementioned article. When asked their thoughts, they said,
“Andrews University is an institution that has made a name for itself in many ways. It has held the title of the most diverse university in the United States for some time. In addition to the seminary, various other programs have attracted individuals to attend and complete their education here. This campus is full of people from all cultures and walks of life. This diversity is a blessing, but it also requires a lot of work to make sure everyone is heard and included. Our last president, President Luxton, was very intentional about this. She highlighted the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She opened up a position for that very purpose (Michael Nixon, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion). Andrews has benefited from being a shining light of diversity and inclusion and has touched many lives because of it. Moving forward, my hope for the new president is that he is aware of his new responsibility–the responsibility to continue to create a space where all people are welcome. To be clear, this means being inclusive regardless of ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic class, and religious affiliation. This is a difficult task to take on individually, but with communication and the support of the Andrews community, it is possible. John 15:12 says, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” If we live out our lives trying to show others the love that God has shown us, things like equity and inclusion will become much easier. My hope is that the new president will keep these concepts in mind.”
Though it was not always so, the values of diversity and inclusion are now ingrained into the fabric of what it means to experience life at Andrews University. In a letter to the student body, president-elect Taylor said: “Each time I am on campus, I am reminded anew of the amazing nature of our Andrews community and the vitality and rich culture embodied by our truly nationally and globally diverse student body, a microcosm of the family of God. We will seek to nurture a multicultural community that is warm and caring, fair and just, and that fosters a culture of connectedness and collaboration.”
We exist in a space that gives us the unique opportunity to express ourselves culturally, connect and learn from each other, and engage in meaningful conversations about cultural identity and belonging. A potential threat to that space we hold so dear is alarming at best. However, I urge my fellow students to avoid drawing drastic conclusions without proper context and full knowledge of the situation at hand. In the same breath, I encourage each of us to continue to be aware of changes, involve ourselves in creating the environment we want to see, and engage critically with the world around us.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.