Renée Taylor to serve as AHS associate dean for academic affairs

Renée Taylor, professor of occupational therapy and former UIC vice provost for faculty affairs, has agreed to serve as associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Applied Health Sciences.

“Dr. Taylor combines innovative academic leadership with active research and a student focus,” said AHS Dean Bo Fernhall. “We look forward to working with her in this new role, as well as her continuing position as professor of occupational therapy.”

As vice provost, Dr. Taylor helped establish and implement policies that supported faculty governance, work-life balance, diversity and professional development. These include the cluster hire initiative, faculty mentoring, promotion and tenure workshops and the Center for the Advancement of Teaching-Learning Communities.

Dr. Taylor’s research areas include epidemiology of fatigue, patient-provider communication and psychosocial adaptation to severe disability.

She is co-investigator on a new Howard Hughes Medical Institute-funded project to promote STEM learning for underrepresented students.

She is director of the UIC Model of Human Occupation Clearinghouse, a resource for research and scholarship on the internationally known model of occupational therapy practice.

Dr. Taylor began her new responsibilities Aug. 16.