About the President
In May 2011, Keith Taylor, Ph.D. was appointed the seventh
president of Gannon University, a Catholic, diocesan, comprehensive
university founded in 1925 by Archbishop John Mark Gannon. Gannon
University offers four doctoral, 23 master's, 54 bachelor's and
eight associate degree programs. Taylor served as Gannon's provost
and vice president for academic affairs from 2005-2011. During his
tenure, he has established a dynamic strategic vision and
integrated planning and operations that has empowered the community
to achieve great success across all dimensions of University work
in their efforts to transform lives. His focus as provost has
continued into his presidential leadership having reorganized
Gannon's academic structure to a more integrated three-college
model; created a growing satellite campus in Ruskin, FL; added new
strategic academic programs to meet current and future market
needs; broadened the community focus to a global perspective; and
instituted the Erie-GAINS (Gannon Alliances to Improve Neighborhood
Sustainability) and OWB (Our West Bayfront) neighborhood
revitalization programs. He is noted for his open, strategic
leadership style and commitment to students, service to the
community and building cultural and global awareness. Taylor earned
a bachelor's degree in physical therapy, a master's degree in
exercise science and a doctoral degree in anatomy and cell biology
from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has 30 years
of experience as a faculty member, scholar, and leader at all
levels of higher education.
Gannon's Vision 2020 comprehensive campaign culminated in 2016
with of over $67 million raised to support a spectrum of critical
needs; in particular scholarship funds to ensure student access to
the Gannon learning experience and academic and support programs to
enhance the quality of that learning and life experience. Over $135
million in major capital improvements have been completed during
the past decade in Erie and Ruskin including construction and
transformation of 7 academic buildings, the Nash Library, and new
residential North Hall and Wellness Center and Fieldhouse. These
facility and program enhancements have transformed the campus and
allowed the community to make great strides to bolster efforts to
support student learning and achievement. The faculty and staff
focus on engagement, retention and student success has resulted in
a 5% increase in freshmen student retention rates in just the past
few years. Gannon's commitment to access and affordability to a
growing diverse student population is reflected in the additional
academic, personal and career advising and resources offered to
first-generation, low income and disabled students bolstered by the
burgeoning success in extramural funding since the establishment of
the Office of Grants and Sponsored Projects as well as the Student
Success Center. The faculty and staff have secured millions of
dollars in annual funding including Gannon's first successful
National Science Foundation grants.
Taylor has also reaffirmed Gannon's commitment to social justice
and Catholic social teaching with ardent support for the Center for
Social Concerns and Mission and Ministry efforts. The Erie-GAINS
and OWB initiatives began under Taylor's leadership and represent a
series of intentional partnerships with government agencies,
businesses and community organizations to revitalize the
neighborhoods surrounding Gannon's campus.
This work is central to his dedication to Catholic higher
education and his fervent personal commitment to serving the local
and global communities. He travels extensively, both in providing
service to those in need as well as in developing global
partnerships and opportunities for Gannon's students and faculty to
learn and serve throughout the world. Since joining Gannon
University, his regional volunteer work includes serving as a
current member and previous chair of the Board of Directors for the
Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, a member of the
boards of UPMC Hamot Medical Center, United Way of Erie County,
Erie Downtown Development Corporation Board and Executive
Committee, Erie Downtown Partnership, Erie Technology Incubator,
and Pennsylvania State Athletic Association, and an outgoing member
of the Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
(AICUP), and Pennsylvania Campus Compact boards.
Prior to his work at Gannon, Taylor served Daemen College in
Amherst, N.Y. from 1988-2005 as a full professor, academic dean of
health and human services, chairman of the Department of Physical
Therapy, as well as the assistant to the vice president for
academic affairs for instructional technology and liberal
learning.