USM Human Capital Development Doctoral Graduate Named Executive Director of East Mississippi Community College’s Communiversity
Mon, 11/11/2019 - 08:56am | By: Van Arnold
Dr. Courtney Taylor, a 2019 Human Capital Development Ph.D. graduate in the School
of Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development (ISPD) at The University
of Southern Mississippi (USM), was recently named Executive Director of East Mississippi
Community College’s Communiversity in Mayhew, Miss.
Dr. Taylor will oversee the Communiversity, a $42 million facility that opened to students in August and offers programs dedicated to training students for careers in advanced manufacturing, such as Mechatronics Technology, Industrial Maintenance and Systems Based Automation, to name a few. She will also supervise other Workforce and Community Service credit and noncredit programs at EMCC’s other campuses.
Dr. Taylor said while she is impressed with the Communiversity, she is equally appreciative of the unified efforts of all involved in seeing that the project came to fruition.
“To me, the Communiversity is a testament to the partnerships in the region,” she said. “To have the vision, foresight and ability to get that done is very special. I don’t see that happening anywhere else. The building is gorgeous. I think it is a great way to tell the world that Mississippi and the Golden Triangle are serious about having a ribbon-ready workforce. It is an outward symbol of local partnerships that I think will pay dividends for decades to come.”
Dr. Taylor has served in higher education for the last 13 years, most recently as the regional director of Workforce and Economic Development for the Alabama Community College System. Prior to that, she served as the director of the Workforce Solutions department at Calhoun Community College where she managed open-enrollment programs and customized training for local industries. Formerly, Dr. Taylor served as assistant director at Troy University’s Center for International Business and Economic Development.
Dr. Taylor is native of Magnolia Springs, Ala. In addition to a PhD in Human Capital Development from USM, Dr. Taylor holds a BSBA from the University of West Alabama and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Troy University. She is also certified as a Professional Community and Economic Developer and facilitates courses for both the Southeast Community Development Institute and the Texas Community Development Institute.
“On behalf of the faculty of the Human Capital Development program, we congratulate Courtney on this opportunity,” said Dr. Heather Annulis, Associate Director of ISPD. “Courtney is a scholar-practitioner with innovative ideas for workplace development for Mississippi. Her education, experience, and expertise sets Courtney apart as the perfect professional for this job.”