Howard University Dean Gives Career Advice to Texas A&M Graduate Students

As the U.S. population changes, professors need to be ready to teach in increasingly diverse environments. Dr. Orlando Taylor, a graduate dean at Howard University, drew upon his extensive experience in considering issues of diversity to share practical suggestions with graduate students at Texas A&M's Graduate Teaching Academy on March 24. His talk was called "Preparing for Faculty Careers in New America: Challenges and Opportunities." Taylor also spoke to the leaders of GTA at lunch and met with faculty throughout the day.

Taylor discussed the importance of developing cultural competence and seeking out hiring departments that care about teaching. Students' and professors' cultural backgrounds affect how they interpret social cues and approach course content, Taylor said. He encouraged future faculty to observe the climate in the departments where they apply for positions and to make sure that teaching is important to their future employers.