Metropolitan State University of Denver welcomes Taylor Tackett as the new associate vice president for Student Engagement and Wellness and dean of students. He will officially join the University community Feb. 8.
Tackett currently serves as the assistant dean of students and director of Community Standards and Student Responsibility at Ohio University, a 29,000-student public university. There, he has managed multiple departments and initiatives, including student conduct; orientation; strategic-planning and assessment committees; co-curricular student-leadership development; student government; and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Prior to this, he served in housing and residential-life positions at Boise State University and Tiffin University.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration and a master’s degree in Art and Visual Media from Tiffin University before receiving a graduate certificate in Teaching in Higher Education from Boise State University. He is a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Administration at Ohio University, defending next fall.
“My undergraduate experience was challenging — I didn’t have (a) support system to help guide me,” Tackett said. “I struggled academically and nearly failed out because I didn’t know what my resources were at first. This experience really drove me to higher-education work. Helping folks get to, get through and thrive in college is a mission that is really close to my heart.”
Tackett describes himself as an “equity-focused advocate, collaborative leader and innovative thought partner” who is eager to advance MSU Denver’s strategic goals.
The selection committee was particularly impressed with his experience managing the Ohio University student-conduct portfolio, where he redesigned the student-leadership program, led strategic-planning processes and built a strong assessment culture in the Division of Student Affairs. The committee also noted his commitment to equity and his work to create a court-diversion program in collaboration with local criminal-justice agencies.
“Throughout the interview process, I came to appreciate Taylor’s steady approach to managing crises, his trauma-informed approach to being a student-affairs educator, his human-centered approach to supervision and his vision for student engagement,” said Will Simpkins, Ed.D., vice president for Student Affairs at MSU Denver.
Tackett’s résumé also includes creating social community opportunities, partnering with academic-affairs and industry partners and collaborating on public-private partnership-based housing programs and master-tenant lease agreements at Boise State University, which he will apply to efforts to reduce housing insecurity at MSU Denver.
“I am excited to work closely with the teams across campus to continue to remove the barriers that our students experience and create a place where each student knows that they matter and belong,” Tackett said. “When we build an environment where students can engage, learn and truly be a part of a community, we can help every student reach their maximum potential.
“As I transition to campus, I am looking forward to meeting students, faculty and staff over coffee or lunch. It is my hope that I can be connected and involved with campus life and learn more about how students are experiencing MSU Denver and the creative and innovative ways my colleagues are supporting our students.”
In addition to his passion for supporting students through their college experience, Tackett is a big music, theater, food and outdoor enthusiast who plans to spend a lot of time at Red Rocks and hitting the hiking trails with his pandemic pup, Freddie.