Goals and Objectives
The Division of Opportunities, Connections and Success serves a leadership role in collaboration with existing and future University efforts to support all students seeking educational access and academic achievement. Acknowledging that different groups may have different barriers to success in higher education and employment, this division supports opportunities for students and employees across campus, regardless of backgrounds.
We provide opportunities for those who seek to come here, connections and programming to equip them while they are on our campus, and resources to support their career aspirations and future success.
Leadership
Dr. G. Christine Taylor
A seasoned senior executive with a successful background in change management, program development, marketing, recruitment, and process improvement, Dr. G. Christine Taylor is vice president and associate provost for Opportunities, Connections and Success.
Since joining the University in 2017, Dr. Taylor has stressed the importance of intentionality in improving student access and belonging at The University of Alabama. Through a multitude of programs, educational initiatives and professional efforts, she has provided leadership and strategic direction for increasing recruitment, enrollment and retention of underrepresented students, faculty and staff.
Among the highlights of her tenure at UA was the dedication of the reimagined and professionally staffed Intercultural Center in 2020. At that time, the Center moved to a central location in The University of Alabama Student Center, serving as a hub for cultural learning, teaching and sharing.
Prior to coming to UA, Dr. Taylor served as vice provost for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Purdue University where she led 41 professionals and 28 students and implemented more than 35 programs to support increasing enrollment, retention and recruitment of underrepresented students, faculty and staff. She also provided critical leadership in the development of a more inclusive campus environment with an emphasis on the development of professional competencies for all faculty, staff and students. Throughout her career, she has worked in several areas of higher education, including student life and developing and implementing academic support programs. Her professional background also incorporates leadership for outreach programs and initiatives, which included partnerships with K-12 schools, community organizations, and alumni; peer-to-peer mentoring programs for first-year students; and scholarship programs.
Before working at Purdue, Dr. Taylor served as the associate vice president for institutional diversity at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Prior to that, she served at Ohio University as associate vice president for finance and administration and director of university professional development before being promoted to assistant to the president. While there she led the design and implementation of the Urban Scholars Program, a need-based scholarship program targeted at increasing the presence of underrepresented students from urban areas, and the Appalachian Scholars Program, a multi-campus need-based scholarship program targeted at increasing college access to students located in 22 counties of Appalachia.
Dr. Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Middle Tennessee State University in 1979. She earned her master’s degree and doctorate from Ohio University in 1989 and 1997, respectively.
