A resident of Lyndhurst, Dr. Michele Scott Taylor is the President and incoming CEO at College Now Greater Cleveland and an educator at local universities.
She is appointed to serve through March 31, 2026.
Dr. Michele Scott Taylor is the chief program officer at College Now Greater Cleveland and provides strategic leadership for the organization’s programmatic efforts, including school- and community-based advising programs as well as federal programs such as Talent Search, GEAR Up, and Upward Bound. Her research and practice ensure that College Now’s programming reflects “best in class” thinking and is on the cutting-edge of research in the college access and success field. She also teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels at local universities including John Carroll University and Cleveland State University. Formerly, she taught at Baldwin Wallace University and Walsh University.
Formerly a senior research analyst for Cosmos Corporation, she conducted applied research, policy analysis, and evaluations for federally-funded projects typically funded by the Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and the Department of Justice.
Michele has spent most of her professional career in higher education administration in a myriad of student affairs and academic affairs roles. Her professional and research interests include diversity, cultural competency development, program evaluation, organizational development and organizational learning in higher education and non-profit organizations. She received two Bachelors’ degrees from the University of Akron majoring in political science, sociology, and French. She earned a Master of Education degree from Kent State University specializing in college student personnel as well as a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in higher education administrative and policy studies.
Michele is also CEO and principal of Global Learning Solutions, a small consulting firm she started in an effort to provide cultural competency development, program evaluation, program and proposal development, grant writing and organizational development assistance to small businesses and non-profit organizations.
In the community, Michele takes pride in serving on the board of the Global Ambassadors Language Academy (GALA) and ideastream’s Community Advisory Board. She is a former board member of Progressive Arts Alliance, a nonprofit that inspires students to reach their full potential by providing unique and relevant learning experiences using contemporary arts and 21st century media. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Michele has received numerous recognitions including Leadership Cleveland c/o 2017; Cleveland Magazine’s “One to Watch”; YWCA’s Woman of Professional Excellence; and Kaleidoscope’s 40/40 (2012), to name a few. Of all her accomplishments, she is most proud of her three children: Paris, a rising college senior at West Point; Peighton, a rising Sophomore at the Ohio State University, Honors College; and Douglas, a rising 6th grader who finally likes reading!