Former mayor of San Antonio, Texas Dr. Ivy Taylor, was recently elected as Rust College’s first woman president. She is the 12th president in the college’s 154-year history.
Rust College, founded in 1866 in Holly Spring, Mississippi, is the oldest of the 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities supported by the United Methodist Black College Fund – a fund administered by the United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM).
Growing up in Queens New York exposed to limited opportunities, Taylor never dreamed she would be the first African American mayor of San Antonio, let alone the first woman president of a historic institution like Rust College.
Taylor earned her bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1992.
Taylor moved to San Antonio, Texas shortly after graduating from college. While working for an affordable housing agency in 2004, she discovered that she was called to connect people to the enrichment opportunities she lacked exposure to as a child.
In her role at Merced Housing Texas, Taylor organized on-site career and educational services and built community partnerships.
“I thought it was so great,” Taylor said. “I was like, ‘We’re providing safe affordable places for people to live. We’re providing resources for them to build themselves up in life.’ But what I discovered is that residents couldn’t even take advantage of the classes and programs because their lives were so chaotic and unstable… So, I really began to understand that the path to greater stability for these families was improving their educational outcomes. That was the spark.”
Inspired to do more for her community, Taylor became a San Antonio city council member in 2009. That is when she learned of Huston–Tillotson University and the rich legacy of HBCUs.
Huston-Tillotson, located in Austin, Texas, is also an HBCU supported by the United Methodist Black College Fund.
“My parents didn’t go to college, and then I grew up in the north,” Taylor explained. “So, none of the teachers at school talked about or introduced me to HBCUs at that time. It wasn’t until I was a council member that I started actually visiting the schools in Texas, that I really started to have a richer understanding of their impact.”
The impact of the school’s rich history inspired Taylor to navigate further into higher education leadership at HBCUs.
Taylor receives her doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania this August. Her dissertation allowed her to dig deeper into the history, nature and composition of HBCUs. Her research focused on board governance and accreditation at three HBCUs. Taylor’s case study analysis explored the board’s role in helping schools overcome accreditation challenges.
Now, Taylor said she is committed to shaping a brighter vision for Rust College by connecting Rust College students to better career and growth opportunities.
She was drawn to Rust College by her passion for “connecting people to opportunities.”
The dream Taylor’s mother planted years ago, propelled her into many “first” roles. Today, Taylor stands in the gap as an inspiration to young Black men and women everywhere, the same way the valedictorian of her mother’s class did for her.
That’s why for Taylor, becoming the first Black women president of Rust College is so much more than a title, it’s a passion.
excerpt from a story Jessica Love, writer and editor, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the Black College Fund provides financial support to maintain solid, challenging academic programs; strong faculties; and well-equipped facilities at 11 United Methodist-related historically black colleges and universities. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the Black College Fund apportionment at 100 percent.
