The Elm Student Newspaper
Dr. John Taylor to Retire After 37 Years of Teaching
Volume 80, Issue 25
May 1, 2009
By Judith Klause
Elm Staff Writer
Professor John Taylor of Political Science is retiring at the end of this semester after teaching for 37 years at Washington College.
Taylor is also the chair of the department for Political Science. “I was the chair of the Political Science Department for 11 years and I think I was able to help create a strong department,” he said.
In response to a question about what he considers his greatest achievement, he answered without hesitation, “I think the most important thing is that I’ve been a successful teacher. When I received the teaching award in 1989 it was very gratifying because it showed that I had achieved my most important objective.”
Among other things that were important, said Taylor, was that he was awarded an endowed Chair, as Louis L. Goldstein Professor of Public Affairs.
Professor Tahir Shad said, “I think from a student perspective, especially students who have gone into the law field, have really appreciated his teaching. He is a person they always looked up to as a mentor.”
Shad also said, “I’ve said before he is an institution within an institution. He is a very diligent person, supportive of colleagues and faculty, he was always there for you and he is very loyal.”
Taylor said that he was very much involved in matters of college governance, including chairing an ad hoc faculty committee on the bylaws, which worked in conjunction with the Board Legal Affairs Committee for six years on a revision of the college bylaws, and chairing an ad hoc committee on governance and faculty leadership, which has proposed significant changes in the way the faculty is organized to participate in the management of college affairs.
Professor of Political Science and International Studies Christine Wade said, “I think John has built a strong department that attracts some of the best students at Washington College. His recent work on co-governance will hopefully have a lasting impact on the institution.
“I’ll miss just talking to John everyday. He has a terrific sense of humor and gives great advice. Plus, he’s the only member of the faculty who knows Robert’s Rule of Order, so faculty meetings will be complete anarchy without him.”
Senior Brittany Doggett, a pre-law student who majors in Political Science and English, said, “Professor Taylor is my advisor and my thesis advisor. He is absolutely amazing. He is actually the reason I went into Poli Sci. He really connects to his students. He was always very encouraging and gave me a lot of support while I was writing my thesis.”
Joseph Prud’homme is the professor who will be teaching Taylor’s courses starting next semester. Taylor said about him, “I’m very optimistic about his success. He is highly qualified, energetic, and enthusiastic. I think he’ll do a fine job.”
The WC website states, “Professor Taylor is one of two pre-law advisers on campus, assisting students in planning an appropriate schedule of classes and in selecting law schools and preparing applications.”
Senior Joshua Ackerman, a pre-law student, said, “I think he has many years of experience, and he is a resourceful person when it comes to school admissions. He makes himself available to all students who show an interest. His honesty is beneficial for students.”
Taylor said, in response to a question about what he will miss the most about teaching, “Actually being in the classroom interacting with students. That’s the best part.” In response to the thing he’ll miss least, he laughed and said, “Reading blue books.”
Senior Liz Hoff, a pre-law student, said about Taylor that, “He has actually been my favorite professor. He is the most accessible professor here, and always helps with school work or applications. He is so dedicated to his students that he’ll bend over backwards to make sure any dream they have gets accomplished.
“I’ve had him in three courses. He has such a passion for the subject he is teaching that it is so difficult for a student to leave his class not loving the subject as well.”
In response to the question how the student body and the school itself has changed in his 37 years here, Taylor said: “Students are a lot better today than when I came, the faculty is larger and better than when I came. The college provides far more opportunities off campus, like internships. The college has had a major change in physical appearance and is in far better shape now.”
He said, in response to the question for the reason of his retirement, “not because of the shape the economy is in.” He laughed loudly after he made that comment. “What they say is true: when it’s time to retire, you know. I’ve done all the things I’ve wanted to do. It’s time to move on to another phase in my life.”
Taylor will stay in Chestertown and is planning to stay involved. He said he wants to attend more cultural and athletic events. “The thing I want to pursue is my interest in digital photography. I would like to travel. And there are a few projects around my home that my wife and I have been wanting to do for a while. I have a lot of books that I want to read. They have been sitting on my shelf because I haven’t had time for them.”
Professor Andrew Oros said that Taylor will leave a very lasting legacy with the change that will come from the ad hoc committee. He also said that he and all the other professors in the department were hired by Taylor. “I’m going to miss knowing we have somebody at the college who remembers over 35 years of Washington College’s past history. He helped to guide us. But I’m happy that he’ll still be living in Chestertown and we’ll still have access to him.”