Books for Growing Minds™ present:
“IN OUR SPOTLIGHT”
Courtesy of Dr. Dana L. Taylor
Meet Dr. Dana L. Taylor
On Saturday, November 18, 2017, Dr. Dana L. Taylor will serve as the Official American Sign Language Interpreter for the 2017 Savannah Children’s Book Festival’s Main Stage events. This will be Dr. Taylor’s 12th year as the festival’s American Sign Language Interpreter, having been the principal interpreter and primary consultant since the festival’s interest in providing American Sign Language Interpreting Services for Savannah’s deaf individuals and community. The Main Stage featured authors invited to headline the Savannah Children’s Books Festival.
Dr. Taylor is a licensed psychotherapist, educator and Interpreter for the Deaf. Because of her breadth of experiences and knowledge from working within Deaf culture, Dr. Taylor is often sought after for her American Sign Language interpreting services for legal, educational, community, and medical assignments. For other 35 years, she is called upon when high visible guests and noted celebrities require interpreting services. Dr. Taylor has interpreted for notable individuals such as President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, American media mogul, Ted Turner, Ellen DeGeneres, Pastor Cleflo Dollar, Whoopi Goldberg, American Film and Television Producer and Director, Lee Daniels, Governor Rockefeller, and many others. Advocating for the Deaf community, in the early 1980’s, Dr. Taylor initiated a meeting with Oprah Winfrey, leading to the implementation of closed caption for the hearing impaired for the talk show.
In addition, Dr. Taylor is a certified mediator who specializes in gang intervention. She has developed courses in conflict resolution for San Diego Community College and San Diego Restitution and Mediation Center/Legal Aid. Through her entrepreneurial services, Dr. Taylor is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Elijah Agency, LLC. Her agency provides corporate and educational training on sensitivity issues, diversity and inclusion, conflict resolution, organizational change, stress management, and interpreting for the Deaf.
She has worked extensively in higher education for more than 35 years in Pennsylvania; Mexico City, Mexico, Texas, California, and Georgia. Dr. Taylor studied linguistics at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, and has held positions as a tenured faculty member, Assistant Athletic Director of Academic Affairs, and university administrator. Dr. Taylor served as the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf for the Georgia Department of Labor.
As the former University of Phoenix, Savannah Campus, Campus College Chair, and later, Director of Academic Affairs (Chief Academic Officer) for over a decade, Dr. Taylor was responsible for the daily operation, faculty affairs, and management of five colleges within the university ; College of Criminal Justice and Security, College of Health Sciences and Nursing, College of Humanities and Sciences, School of Business, and College of Social Sciences. She was also the campus’ Ethics and Compliance Liaison, Media spokesperson, and served as the campus’ Disability Service Advisor.
Dr. Taylor earned a Doctor of Education in Pastoral Community Counseling and additional post-graduate courses in Behavior Analysis. She earned a Master of Science in Education, specializing in School Psychology, Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education, with a concentration in Early Childhood Development. She is a licensed professional counselor, national certified counselor, certified professional counselor supervisor, and board-certified telemental health counselor. Dr. Taylor completed a Professional-in-Residence program with Betty Ford Center in Palm Desert, California.
Singing for the unsung and for those who advocate for worthy causes, Books for Growing Minds™ would like to extend our best wishes and congratulations to Dr. Dana L. Taylor for her many endeavors and achievements.
Dr. Dana L. Taylor, cheers and best wishes!
Leave a Reply