Dr. D'Angelo Taylor
Vice President for Hope, Unity & Belonging, Belmont University
Dr. D’Angelo Taylor draws from his upbringing, education, and professional experience to fulfill his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from Western Illinois University, he understands how government functions. In addition, he holds a doctoral degree from the University of New England in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on Higher Education. He has worked with the community and religious and educational organizations in Evansville, Chicago, St. Louis, East St. Louis, and Rock Island to help improve the lives of others.
Dr. Taylor serves as the inaugural Vice President for Hope, Unity & Belonging at Belmont University. In this role, he serves as the architect of the newly created HUB—Belmont’s Office of Hope, Unity and Belonging. As part of this work, Dr. Taylor leads the university’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives in support of its strategic emphasis to embrace hope and inclusive excellence to reweave the social fabric.
The HUB serves as a centralized office dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives, carrying out the institution’s desire for all community members to experience a meaningful and authentic sense of connection. As part of this charge, the HUB is responsible for managing all efforts related to Title IX compliance and prevention, as well as all non-discrimination and equity work (Titles VI, VII, and IX), including prevention, protection, and accountability.
In his previous roles, Dr. Taylor served as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Central State University. In that role, Dr. Taylor was tasked with creating a premier student experience at Ohio’s only public HBCU. Dr. Taylor also served as the Associate Director of the Multicultural Center at the University of Southern Indiana. In that role, he worked to build partnerships with multiple entities at USI and within the Evansville/tri-state community.
He also served as the Vice-Chairman of the John M. Caldwell Community Development Corporation, specifically focused on youth education and development. He is a member of the board of Brothers Out Saving Souls, Inc. (BOSS), an Evansville non-profit offering programs to help youth deal with issues such as violence and challenges at home and within the public education system.
As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., D’Angelo was recognized as the organization’s alumni brother of the year for the Midwestern Region in 2016.
A former Zion Missionary Baptist Church member, he was an active member of the music ministry and the vacation bible school programs. He served on multiple ad-hoc committees and participated in the summer reading and mentoring programs.
D’Angelo has worked with first-generation and low-income students in urban, suburban, and rural communities to aid families in pursuing higher education. A firm believer in mentorship, he continues to mentor college and high school students. His work with students in both Illinois and Missouri earned him the Missouri Association of College Admissions Counseling “Rising Star Award” in 2015. And in 2021, Dr. Taylor earned the 20 under 40 Award from the Evansville Rotary Club.
One of five children, Dr. Taylor, credits his late grandmother's persistence for much of his success in life.