Dr. Leo Taylor joined the office of Diverstiy, Equity, and Inclusion in September 2018 with a 50/50 appointment as Program Manager and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Entomology. In November of 2019 he left research and transitioned to full-time in his DEI role.
After arriving at OSU Leo spearheaded the creation of a Cultivating Change student organization and now serves as the staff advisor. He provides professional development workshops to CFAES students, staff, and faculty on the Columbus and Wooster Campuses, through Extension, as well as programs for the entire OSU community. Please continue reading to learn a little more about Dr . Taylor.
Dr. Taylor serves as an educator and consultant for CFAES, university, and broader community. In addition to his work at Ohio State he delivers local, national, and international workshops on salient diversity, equity, and inclusion topics. He is frequently sought after for consultations on issues such as inclusive and equitable hiring practices, gender identity, pronouns, and implicit bias. Leo was born and raised in Muncie, IN and received his B.S. (psychology) and M.S. (biology) from Ball State University. He received his PhD in entomology from Cornell University. Leo has delivered hundreds of workshops, webinars, conference presentations, guest lectures, and keynote addresses on a variety of DEI topics with a specialty in queer and transgender cultural competencies. Leo’s praxis is rooted in the conviction that modeling vulnerability and embodying radical authenticity is an impactful way to help others feel personally connected to social justice work. Leo is passionate about issues affecting people who are women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, living with HIV, and those struggling with the unwarranted stigma associated with pathologized neurodivergence. In addition to his professional work, Leo has served as a life coach, mentor, and support group facilitator for graduate students and individuals from some of the most marginalized populations
In his spare time Leo enjoys gardening and growing food, making art, playing the guitar, being out in nature, and spending time with his dog.