[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 59 (Friday, April 26, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E573-E574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING DR. RONALD TAYLOR

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 26, 2013

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Ronald Taylor 
on the event of his Inauguration as the sixth President of Merced 
College, one of the premier community colleges in Central California.
  Dr. Taylor began his exemplary educational career in Kyoto, Japan, 
where he taught English and Linguistics. He also taught at the 
University of Virginia in the English Department, which at the time was 
among the top three English Departments in the world. Dr. Taylor and 
his family decided to return to California, where he moved his way up 
from student grader to full time professor to Assistant Dean of 
Instruction for Letters and Social Sciences at Santa Rosa Junior 
College. Dr. Taylor has also served in the capacity of Vice President 
of Academic Services at Chabot College and Dean of Instruction at 
Reedley College.
  Before coming to Merced College, Dr. Taylor served as the 
Superintendent-President of Feather River College. During his tenure at 
Feather River, Dr. Taylor effectively handled fiscal challenges, 
implemented a new approach to managing enrollment, and cultivated a 
communicative and positive atmosphere at the campus. He also 
successfully lifted a warning sanction that was placed on the college 
from the Accreditation Commission of Community and Junior Colleges.
  Throughout his career, Dr. Taylor has demonstrated an ongoing 
commitment to the development of the highest standards for the 
education of his institution, demonstrating through his regular 
interactions with staff and the community his passion for higher 
education. Dr. Taylor has extensive experience engaging with diverse 
populations and has supported activities to encourage cross-cultural 
understanding.
  Being an active member of his community is something of utmost 
importance to Dr. Taylor. He is an active Rotarian, and has served on 
many citizen task forces. Dr. Taylor is an ardent advocate for the 
community college agenda and for rural communities and has served on 
several statewide commissions. His current focus is on developing 
effective strategies to improve student success. He sees his primary 
strength as building consensus and community on campus as a means to 
foster student success.
  It is my distinguished pleasure to welcome Dr. Ronald Taylor, who 
brings a wealth of experience in college governance to Merced College 
and wish him good fortune throughout his tenure as President. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in wishing him well as he embarks on this new 
journey to educate our future leaders.

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