Tom Taylor has been trying to learn everything he can about Ball State University since his arrival on Aug. 1, but he's not sure if he'll ever know everything.
The vice president of marketing, communications and enrollment management said he wants to feel comfortable as soon as possible, but believes the hidden treasures at Ball State are what make the school special.
"My sense is that Ball State is the kind of place that you can never feel that you knew everything about," Taylor said. "That's part of its strength, part of its beauty."
Taylor has spent his first two weeks on the job getting to know the people he works with, getting a better understanding of how the university is structured and figuring out what the challenges and opportunities will be.
"It's been very exciting," Taylor said. "People have been absolutely wonderful, very welcoming and very open, and that's really made the transition easy for me."
During the Fall Semester, Taylor wants to focus on recruiting the best and brightest to Ball State, and he said part of that process is telling the Ball State story.
One story Taylor hopes to tell is that the university has strong academic programs that emphasize student engagement.
"All the faculty that I've met so far, all of what I've heard from the fistful of students that I've met, really talk about interactions between faculty and students," Taylor said. "That's something that I think is really special, and I think that's something that means a great deal to students, legislators, parents and business leaders."
Taylor said he would be unable to tell the Ball State story without students, which is why he's a very student-centered leader.
"It's not something where on the enrollment side you're just bringing people up to the door, push them through and then walk away and forget about them," Taylor said. "I'm really looking forward to getting to know students both individually, but as well through student organizations."
President Jo Ann Gora created Taylor's position in January after she asked Doug McConkey to resign from his position of vice president of student affairs. The position is unique because it encompasses the three areas of marketing, communications and enrollment management.
The people working around Taylor seem to understand what Ball State is trying to accomplish with this restructuring.
"These are areas that, from what I can tell, have interacted in many ways over the years," Taylor said. "So this isn't totally new or different; it's just a little different structure in pulling them together as a separate division in and of itself."
Taylor will be working primarily with Heather Shupp, executive director of university communications; James Rent, director of university marketing; and Larry Waters, dean of admissions and enrollment services.
Rent said the transition to a new leader is much like what a freshman goes through.
"It's been very smooth, but like all kinds of moves -- and especially when you're unfamiliar with campus and people -- there's a lot of getting used to," Rent said. "Tom is a quick study and a really warm individual."
Waters said that all of the employees in his department have been impressed with Taylor and have a very good feeling.
"He brings energy to his position," Waters said. "We're energized and ready to go."
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