Dear Toyin:
Kindly share:
As members of the Dialogue enjoy the U.S. Labor Day Weekend, a moment can be taken to savor positive developments in this turbulent era. One of these, as Prof. Toyin Falola pointed out, is the appointment of Prof. Scott Taylor to be Dean of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies of Boston University.
Falola stated that there is "no success without successors". I have been blessed with many "successors" in my professional life. Scott Taylor belongs to an upper circle that includes other former students such as Eghosa Osaghae, Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
Scott took his first course in African politics with me as an undergraduate at Dartmouth College. A few years after graduation, he contacted me to explore applying to the Ph.D. program in political science at Emory University. At Emory, Scott was again in my classroom, and also a member of the African Governance Program of The Carter Center.*
I have witnessed the evolution of Scott's career as a researcher, teacher, administrator, and policy-scholar. He combined research on Zambian politics with participation in the electoral mission of The Carter Center in 1990-91. In addition to his many important publications, Scott has held teaching positions at Smith College and Georgetown University. In the latter, he took over and strengthened the African Studies Program while participating in various policy-relevant activities. Subsequently, he was appointed to be Vice-Dean at Georgetown University with responsibility for implementing its diversity commitments.
When I was asked to serve on the Board of a national organization responsible for democracy-promotion, I recommended that Scott be considered instead. He now assumes leadership of a well-endowed institution in global studies at a major university. His appointment is notable in several regards. African studies has not been a favorable platform for launching careers in international affairs. The upsurge of Black America in American life has not been accompanied by deepening knowledge of, and connection with, Africa. Scott Taylor is a notable exception.
The Pardee School and Boston University have acquired a path-setting scholar and administrator. Look up from the travails reported daily in the media and a new star will be seen in a familiar galaxy. It transmits the message that diligent work, superb talent, and resilience can overcome historic and residual obstacles.
Richard Joseph
* A brief video by Scott is available on www.africaCLI.org. Scroll through the tabs: About US/Who We Are/CLI video.
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