Dr. Don Taylor inaugurated as Cabrini’s eighth president

By Erica Abbott
October 29, 2014

Dr. Don Taylor making his speech during the inauguration ceremony. (Amarra Boone/Photo Editor)
Dr. Don Taylor making his speech during the inauguration ceremony. (Amarra Boone/Photo Editor)
Dr. Don Taylor making his speech during the inauguration ceremony. (Amarra Boone/Photo Editor)
Dr. Don Taylor making his speech during the inauguration ceremony. (Amarra Boone/Photo Editor)

The sounds of bagpipes and drums signaled the entrance of the man who was about to become Cabrini’s eighth president. On Saturday, Oct. 25, Dr. Don Taylor was inaugurated as the first male president of Cabrini College.

“What most attracted me [to Cabrini] was Cabrini’s mission and the students,” Taylor said in his inaugural speech. “Being the only Cabrinian college in the world is an advantageous distinction.The Cabrini name is known around the globe.”

Inauguration began with a slideshow of old photos of the college juxtaposed with photos of the campus current day. Taking over as president, a video was also produced with people from all over campus welcoming Taylor to campus. “We love this college,” Mario Marino, Student Government Association president, said in his speech. “You’re taking the leadership of a great legacy. You have our support.”

Welcoming remarks edited together by our multimedia editor, Lauren Hight

Part of inauguration also included the presentations of symbolic elements, which include the passing of the college charter, the mace, and the chain of office that features the college’s seal. “This is a day of great promise,” Tom Nerney, chair of the Board of Trustees, said. “By the authority of the Board of Trustees, I confer upon you the presidency of Cabrini College,” Nerney said, placing the chain of office around Taylor’s neck.

Despite being inaugurated just recently, Taylor’s first day on campus as the new president was July 1. He has been setting goals for the college since then.

One big goal Taylor said he feels as already been accomplished with his time as president is getting a strategic agenda in place.

“True leadership is about being bold,” Taylor said in his speech. “It’s not about thinking inside the box, but without one.”

This includes his Cabrini 2020 plan, which includes a roadmap for growth in enrollment and retention, recruiting a more diversified student body, placing all students in LLCs and staying true to Mother Cabrini’s education of the heart. “[We] want to check off accomplishments one by one, year after year,” Taylor said in his speech. “Failure is simply not an option.”

Some of the projects Taylor still hopes to accomplish before the end of this year are being at a good point on renovations to the Dixon House, which will be getting used next fall for student housing, and staying on track to do the groundbreaking for phase one of the Dixon Center addition. By the end of the year, Taylor wants to make sure Cabrini is where they need to be on these improvement projects.

Taylor said he never even thinks about the fact that he is the first male president of the college. “The only reason that it’s symbolic at all, at least to me, is because there are still certain perceptions out in the greater I-95 corridor, some people still think that Cabrini is an all women’s college.”

(Joey Rettino/Managing Editor)
(Joey Rettino/Managing Editor)

Cabrini has been co-ed since 1972 so raising brand awareness of the college was of importance to Taylor. “Mother Cabrini is known worldwide and she was the first American-citizen saint.

She’s the patroness of immigrants so that name and that brand is known worldwide. I’m sure probably a majority of our students aren’t even aware of that.”

The inauguration included an installation ceremony, a reception and mass. Afterwards, a dinner was held for family and friends. Joan Kleckner, assistant to the president, said that she was very impressed by how Taylor sees the whole. He wanted a family-style dinner and the entire day was about it being shared by everyone. “He wanted [the day] to be fun.”

When asked what his favorite part of being president so far was, Taylor said, “Hands down, interacting with the students…It’s about the students.”

That could be seen at the reception. Students and faculty lined up in Grace Hall to talk with and take photos with the newly-inaugurated president. It was as if people were waiting to meet a celebrity, the line stretching through the Grace Hall boardroom. Some students even took selfies.

At the installation ceremony, Eileen Currie, fifth president of Cabrini, offered the closing benediction. She said that we celebrated that Taylor loves Cabrini College even more than we do and part of Taylor’s mission is to ensure and deliver the Cabrini promise.

“As the first students believed in Mother Ursula, today’s students are counting on us,” Taylor said. “Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

LOQation’s coverage on Dr. Taylor’s inaugration

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Erica Abbott

Hi my name is Erica Abbott and I am the News Editor for the Loquitur this year. I am currently a junior Communication major, Spanish minor. I am also a social buzz editorial intern with Business 2 Community. I am very interested in the arts, social media, photography and writing.

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