California State University Channel Islands
Peter J. Taylor has been a leading voice in higher education in ensuring that students receive the support they need to thrive on campus and after graduation. Mr. Taylor recently concluded his tenure as a member of the California State University Board of Trustees and he currently serves as the president of the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) Foundation. The ECMC Foundation’s mission is to inspire and facilitate improvements that affect educational outcomes, especially among underserved populations, through evidence-based innovations.
Mr. Taylor transitioned from a career in investment banking, including positions as a managing director in municipal finance for Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital, to serve as chief financial officer of the University of California from 2009 to 2014. His work, and the work of the ECMC Foundation to reduce the stigma around career and technical education, has been published by CNN, the Washington Post and other media outlets. Most recently he has worked to decrease equity gaps for single mother students and other targeted populations by increasing grants and programs offered by ECMC.
Mr. Taylor has supported California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) with a significant grant from the ECMC Foundation to support a summer bridge program and embedded curriculum programs for transfer students. This contribution is helping increase transfer success in the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics and provides transfer students with faculty mentors, connections to support services and raises awareness of business-themed clubs and other opportunities.
Mr. Taylor has engaged in planning activities with the CSUCI Foundation Board as well as serving on the Presidential Search Committee for CSUCI’s former president, Erika Beck. During his first visit to campus, he was so impressed with the CSUCI community that he helped direct funding from two philanthropic foundations to support the renovation of CSUCI’s Central Mall.
In recognition of his service to higher education, generous donations to the campus and numerous professional accomplishments, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California State University Channel Islands are proud to confer upon Peter J. Taylor the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.