Dr. David Vassar Taylor is a native of Minnesota now retired and residing in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in German and Russian History from the University of Minnesota, a Masters in English Constitutional History and 20th Century American Social History from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a doctorate in the History of African People from the University of Minnesota. He also possesses a graduate certificate, Institute for Educational Management, from Harvard University.
Dr. Taylor began his academic career as an instructor in the newly formed Black Studies Department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has since served as Chairperson and Associate Professor, Black Studies Department, State University of New York, New Paltz, Dean of Understudies/Associate Professor of History, College of Charleston, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Minnesota State University System, Dean, General College, University of Minnesota, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Morehouse College and Provost, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dillard University.
Other administrative positions held include Director, Minnesota Black Oral History Project, Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) Curator of the Hubert H. Humphrey Collection, MHS and Editor, Hubert H. Humphrey Oral History Project, MHS.
Dr. Taylor is the author of two books, African Americans in Minnesota, MHS Press and Cap Wigington: Architectural Legacy in Ice and Stone, MHS Press co-authored with Paul C. Larson. This book received the Minnesota Humanities Commission Book of the Year Award in 2003 in the category of Architectural History. He is the author of numerous chapters in books, study guides, articles and published papers.
During his long career he has served on several corporate boards and boards of trustees. He is a proud member of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), Atlanta Branch.