The College's Board of Trustees welcomed alum Blair H. Taylor '85 to its ranks this past summer. Elected to a six-year term, Taylor is one of six alumni trustees, a position elected by alumni of the College. In addition to the six alumni trustees, the board's members include the president of the College and 14 term trustees who are elected by the board.

A resident of Los Angeles, Calif., Taylor graduated from Amherst with a B.A. degree in economics. Taylor has been active in College affairs since graduating, having served as president for his class (1995 to 2000) and as class secretary (2000 to present).

"I want Amherst to continue to maintain its greatness," he asserted when asked about his goals as board member. "That has to be carefully and strategically thought through, since so many variables are in flux in America's educational systems right now, and since the school has been great for so long. Staying on top takes hard work and planning and iterative strategies. I want to play some role in ensuring the Amherst that the next few generations see is every bit as great as the one I attended."

"I also want to keep the school's focus on diversity, as one of the ways that the school will maintain its greatness," he continued. "I think there's a genuine commitment to that ideal from the President and the current Board of Trustees. I hope to help build on that commitment, because I believe it is imperative in the 21st century."

In addition to his dedication to the College, Taylor brings to the Board his experiences and accomplishments in the professional arena. From 2002 to 2005, he served as the executive vice president of College Summit, a national college access initiative for low-income students. The organization grew under his leadership, reaching more than 6,000 students in 2005. Currently, Taylor is the president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL), an organization dedicated to enabling African Americans and other minorities in Los Angeles to secure economic self-reliance, power and civil rights through advocacy activities and the provision of programs and services.

Taylor reflected on the value of his work, saying, "The time I spent at College Summit and my last few years at the Urban League have given me a new and profound appreciation for the crisis we face in America's educational systems. Those experiences allowed me to work with the nation's largest secondary school districts and with colleges and universities all across the country."