The University of Waterloo's new Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racismwill be led by Dr. Christopher Taylor in the role of Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism.
His book, Flying Fish in the Great White North: The Autonomous Migration of Black Barbadians, is available from Fernwood Publishing. Taylor is also the author of the e-learning module Confronting Anti-Black Racism, based on his ARTS 130 course.
Taylor also worked in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) and began his career as a Policy Coordinator Intern in the Deputy Minister's Office at the Ministry of Labour. He was the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator in the Ministry of the Attorney General's Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Office; a Senior Policy Advisor at Ontario's Anti-Racism Directorate; and Manager of Social Justice & Change Cluster at the Ontario Correctional Services College.
“I am pleased and grateful for the support from the UWaterloo community on this appointment as the new AVP, EDI-R,” says Dr. Taylor.
“In this role, I will lead with empathy, grace, and courage as an innovative changemaker. I will do this by embodying, and actively demonstrating, the principles of an Inclusive Leader: introspection, intention, and implementation."
In a memo circulated to University employees on October 15, President Vivek Goel and Vice-President, Academic & Provost James Rush announced that they have acted on recommendations from the Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion office review team to create two new organizational units led by Associate Vice-Presidents — Dr. Taylor and Jean Becker, who will take on the new title of Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Relations.