Dr. Carolyn Taylor

Education

Ed.D., Political Science/Higher Education
Oklahoma State University

M.A., Political Science
B.A., History
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Professional Experience

2014-Present, Distinguished Professor (Retired)
2011-2014, Professor
1992-2011, Associate Professor
Rogers State University, Claremore, OK

1991, Adjunct Professor
Oklahoma Baptist University

1990, Visiting Professor of Polictical Science/History
University of Oklahoma

1984-1992, State Legislator
Oklahoma House of Representatives

1979-1984, Faculty
Norman High School, Norman, OK

Administrative Experience

2002-2004, Regents Education Program Advisory Committee
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

1999-2001, NCA Coordinator
Rogers State University, Claremore, OK,

1992-1998, V.P. Academic Affairs/Executive Vice President
University Center at Tulsa/Rogers University, Tulsa, OK

1992-1998, Council on Instruction, Member
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Leadership Experience

Oklahoma House of Representatives, 1984-1992:

• Chair, Education Committee
• Chair, Education Subcommittee, Appropriations and Budget Committee (responsible for approximately two billion dollar budget)
• Principal Author, legislation establishing: scholarship and endowed chair programs and funding for higher education, training and standards for Boards of Regents, K-12 education reforms and funding, funding for the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, a family leave policy for state employees, a statewide prenatal care program, environmental and geography education  programs, the Carl Albert Internship Program in state government, Sooner Start (collaborative multi-agency early intervention programs for children with disabilities), and many others.

Legislative Committees

Oklahoma House of Representatives, 1984-1992:

• Appropriations and Budget (Education subcommittee chair)
• Education (Chair)
• Economic Development
• Mental Health

University Committees and Service

Rogers State University

• Faculty sponsor, President’s Leadership Class
• Faculty liaison with The Washington Center
• Faculty sponsor, Brad Henry International Scholars Program
• Faculty liaison for OSRHE Scholar Leadership Enrichment Program
• Strategic Planning Committee
• Honors advisory Committee
• Centennial Planning Committee
• Marketing Committee
• Strategic Planning Committee (Chair)
• Academic Policies Committee
• Academic Integrity Committee
• NCA Committee (Chair) Self Study Editor
• Assessment Committee
• Mission and Program Planning Committee
• Multiple Administrative and Faculty Search Committees

Courses Taught

• American Federal Government
• American Federal Government (Honors)
• State and Local Government
• Campaigns and Elections
• The American Congress
• Public Policy
• Women in Politics

Workshops/Conferences Attended 

• Pop Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference. Seattle, 24 March 2016
• Quality Matters (QM): Independent Improving Your Online Course (IYOC): Statewide Systems. Certificate of Completion. September 29, 2016
• Pop Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference. New Orleans. 2 April 2015.
• American Statistical Association, Summer 2010
• Oklahoma Red Dirt Book Festival, Fall 2007
• American Democracy Project, Summer 2007
• Surrey International Writers Conference, Fall 2005
• Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival, Fall 2005
• The Higher Learning Commission, NCA Regional Forum, Columbus, Ohio, Fall 2002
• “Improving First-Year Student Learning, Success and Retention” by Dr. John N. Gardner, RSU, Fall, 2001
• Center for Active Learning Teaching Enhancement Series, RSU, Spring, 2001
• Oklahoma Political Science Association Annual Conference, Fall, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015
• The Higher Learning Commission, NCA Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 1996-2001, 2003, 2004

Professional and Public Presentations 

• Spring, 2016 invited panelist, “The Fantasy Lens: Using Fantasy to Illuminate the Classics.”  Pop Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference
• Spring, 2015 invited panelist, “From Sandbox to Pillar: Using Children’s Literature for Adult Education.” Pop Culture Association/ American Culture Association National Conference
• Fall, 2015 guest lecturer, Oklahoma History (Dr. Jane Johansson)
• Fall, 2010 invited panelist, “Oklahoma State Questions”, KRSC
• Fall, 2007 invited panelist/speaker, Oklahoma Red Dirt Book Festival
• Fall, 2005 invited panelist/speaker, Oklahoma Red Dirt Book Festival
• Fall, 2005 chaired panel at Oklahoma Political Science Association annual meeting
• Spring, 2004 workshop presenter on self-study, Higher Learning Commission, NCA annual meeting, Chicago, Illinois
• Spring, 2004 guest lecturer, Oklahoma History (Dr. David Tait)
• Fall, 2001 book review, “Waltzing with the Ghost of Tom Joad” by Robert Maril, RSU library
• Spring, 2001 guest participant, Cultural Ecology (Dr. Frank Elwell)
• Spring, 2001 presenter, The Higher Learning Commission, NCA annual meeting, Chicago, Illinois
• Spring, 2001 conducted workshop on parliamentary procedure for RSU student government officers
• Spring, 2001 book review, “The Running Mate” by Joe Klein, RSU library
• Fall, 2000 guest lecturer, Oklahoma History (Dr. David Tait)
• Fall, 2000 guest lecturer, Perspectives in Human Behavior (Dr. Abe Marrero)
• Fall,1986 panelist, The College Board, national conference, New York City, New York   
• 1985-1992 numerous presentations, invited panelist, keynote speaker for various civic, educational and political conferences and meetings

Publications & Research

Textbooks

• Co-Author with Dr. Steve Housel.  State and Local Government: A Brief Introduction.  Published by the Oklahoma Political Science Association. Vol.1, 2016, Vol. 2, 2017, Vol. 3, 2019.
• Co-Author with Dr. Steve Housel. State and local government chapter in We the People, Twelfth Oklahoma Essential Edition. W.W. Norton Publisher, 2019.

Journals

• Co-Editor in Chief, Oklahoma Politics, Volume 27, 2017, Journal of the Oklahoma Political Science Association

Books

• “Freedom.” Children’s and YA Books in the College Classroom: Essays on Instructional Methods.  Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers, 2015. 164-177.
• Managing Editor, Voices from the Heartland, University of Oklahoma Press, 2007. Finalist, 2008 Oklahoma Book Award. Named one of “15 Essential Oklahoma Reads” by This Land Press, 2013.
• “May I.” Voices from the Heartland, University of Oklahoma Press, 2007. 197-201.
• “Bruce, Bill, and Barack.” Fantasy Media in the Classroom:  Essays on Teaching with Film, Television, Literature, Graphic Novels and Video Games. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers, 2012. 33-44.
• “I’m Cookie Dough.” (with Dr. Ken Hicks) The Truth of Buffy: Essays on Fiction Illuminating Reality. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers, 2008. 185-200.

Articles

• “The Sooner Story: The University of Oklahoma, 1890-2015”, book review, The Chronicles of Oklahoma, 2016.
• “A Letter to America”, book review, Oklahoma Politics, 2008.
• “Party Wars”, book review, Oklahoma Politics, 2006.
• “Born to Run”, book review, Oklahoma Politics, 2005.
• “An Oklahoma Partnership: Higher Education and Economic Development,” Oklahoma Politics, 2001.

Papers

• “The Planning and Implementation of an Inclusive and Meaningful Self Study”, Collection of Papers, Higher Learning Commission, April 2004.
• “Serving the Common Good”, Collection of Papers, Higher Learning Commission, April, 2001

Major Reports:

• Rogers State University Strategic Plan Status Report, 2004
• Rogers State University NCA Self-Study, 2004
• Rogers State University Self-Study AA Secondary Education, program review, 2002
• Rogers State University NCA Self-Study and Request for Institutional Change, 2000
• Rogers State University Strategic Plan, 1999
• Rogers State University Institutional Development Plan, 1999

Current Activities

• Oklahoma Retired Teachers Association, member
• Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, Board Member
• Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Board of Visitors
• Oklahoma Political Science Association, member
• Oklahoma Historical Society, member
• University of Oklahoma alumni association member
• Oklahoma State University alumni association member
• University of Oklahoma band “Pride” alumni member

Recent Activities

• University of Oklahoma Women and Gender Studies Department Board of Advisors
• Claremore Public Schools Business and Education Coalition member
• Claremore Band Booster Association
• Claremore Lady Zebras Volleyball Booster Club, Vice President
• American Statistical Association, member
• Oklahoma National Geographic Education Foundation, Selection Committee member
• Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, Selection Committee member
• Arvest Bank & Trust, Board of Directors
• Central Upper Elementary School, PTO President
• Claremore Regional Hospital Women’s Advisory Committee
• Tulsa Philharmonic, Board of Directors
• Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Foundation, Board of Trustees
• Tulsa Arts and Humanities Council, Board of Directors
• Tulsa Education Fund, Board of Trustees
• Growing Healthy, Board of Directors
• Oklahoma Arts Institute, Board of Directors
• League of Women Voters, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Professional Awards & Honors

• Rogers State University’s student center named the “Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center”, 2017
• Awarded Oklahoma “Teacher of the Year” by the Oklahoma Political Science Association, 2015
• Named RSU Hillcat Mentor, 2014
• Faculty Senate sponsored Faculty Recognition Award for Excellence in Teaching for the School of Liberal Arts, Rogers State University, 2013
• The Journal Record’s Woman of the Year, Fifty Making a Difference, 2008
• Finalist, Oklahoma Book Award, 2008
• Inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, 2007
• Nominated “Professor of the Year” by RSU’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, 2003
• Child Advocates Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, 2003
• Pinnacle Award, Tulsa Commission on the Status of Women, 1995
• Oklahoma Museum of Natural History’s education wing named the “Carolyn Taylor Hall of Education”, 1992
• Oklahoma Observer, Top Ten Legislators of the Year, 1990, 1991, 1992
• Oklahoma Women in Education Administration, Award of Merit, 1990
• Norman Volunteer of the Year, Award of Merit, 1990
• National School Public Relations Association, Award of Honor, 1990
• Woman of the Year, Norman Hi-Noon BPW, 1988
• Friend to Children Award, 1988, (Oklahoma Association of Children Under Six)
• Oklahoma Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Outstanding Legislator Award, 1988
• A.C. Hamlin Award, 1988, (Legislative Black Caucus)
• Profiles in Achievement, Charles M. Holloway, 1987, (featured in book)
• Leadership Oklahoma, Class I, 1987-1988
• Edward R. Munnell, M.D., Award (American Lung Association), 1987
• Citizen Recognition Award, Oklahoma Library Association, 1986
• Young Career Woman of the Year, Norman Hi-Noon BPW, 1984
• U.S. Department of Education Fulbright Scholarship, 1984
• Norman Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Norman Class, 1984
• Outstanding Young Women of America, 1984
• Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities
• Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honorary Association)
• Kappa Delta Pi (Honorary Educational Society)