Taylor DeBoer
For Taylor DeBoer, MA, working with students is the most rewarding part of his job as marketing and operations specialist for the 爆料公社, Baltimore鈥檚 (UMB) Graduate Research Innovation District (Grid).
And DeBoer鈥檚 dedication to students was apparent when he was honored Nov. 17 as the University鈥檚 August Employee of the Month. During a Zoom video conference, he was celebrated by UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, as well as about two dozen colleagues 鈥� and a student from the School of Nursing, Kendal Lee.
Lee, an innovation fellow at the Grid, praised DeBoer鈥檚 leadership.
鈥淵ou have truly redefined what leadership looks like,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou have found potential in me. You have given me opportunities to fulfill that potential, develop new skills, and learn and grow. I also believe that a leader sits at the same table with those they lead, and it鈥檚 been an honor to be seated at the same table as you.鈥�
DeBoer manages events and programs at the Grid, the innovation hub that provides entrepreneurial services and education to UMB students, faculty, and the community. He was honored for his work on the Grid鈥檚 events, particularly the Grid Pitch, a showcase that allows students to pitch their innovative business ideas to a panel of experts and investors in the entrepreneurial community.
When the coronavirus pandemic shut down in-person events, DeBoer had to be flexible and creative to implement and execute the Grid Pitch as a virtual event in the spring. A field of eight teams, with 17 students, participated.
J. Howard 鈥淛im鈥� Kucher, DPA, MBA, program director of the MS in Health and Social Innovation program at the Grid, praised DeBoer鈥檚 work on the Grid Pitch.
鈥淭aylor sweated every single detail of a complex virtual presentation platform that we invented on the fly, and it turned out great,鈥� Kucher said.
DeBoer鈥檚 supervisor, Jenny Owens, ScD, MS, assistant dean, Graduate School, and faculty executive director, the Grid, applauded his innovation.
鈥淭aylor connects well with students and is innovative in his outreach efforts. I recommend him highly for Employee of the Month for his work with growing entrepreneurial efforts in the Grid and a superb effort with the Grid Pitch,鈥� she wrote in her nomination letter.
DeBoer鈥檚 responsibilities include planning and managing programs such as student Lunch and Learn events, which are now virtual. Guests for those programs have included founders and CEOs discussing their startup and entrepreneurial experiences and law professionals giving advice on how to create a business entity.
For the 2019-2020 academic year, 鈥渨e saw a participation increase of over 200 percent compared to the previous year, and I attribute that to Taylor鈥檚 dedication, enthusiasm, and inclusivity,鈥� Owens said.
DeBoer also created CareerLab, inspired by an idea from one of his student fellows who had expressed concern about finding a job during the pandemic, with Gregory Brightbill, MBA, MEd, leadership education and involvement program specialist at the Intercultural Leadership and Engagement Center. Together, they organized a series of six workshops for students looking for tips on finding a job, especially during these uncertain times.
鈥淪tudents are overwhelmed. This is a very strange time to be going out into the workforce,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淭here should be career-related resources. That was an example of something totally born out of COVID and new and different that we hadn鈥檛 done before.鈥�
During the Zoom call, Jarrell praised DeBoer, who initially thought he was in the wrong meeting when he saw how many people were there, including University leaders.
鈥淭o have somebody like you on this campus and working with our students is an unbelievable asset,鈥� Jarrell said. 鈥淗ere we are in these restricted times, and yet someone with your capabilities and interpersonal skills comes to the forefront and is extremely valuable.鈥�
Almost all of his colleagues who spoke during the call talked about DeBoer鈥檚 friendly demeanor and personality.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e just so nice and a joy to work with,鈥� Owens said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e such a team player when everyone needs help.鈥�
DeBoer thanked his colleagues, particularly Owens, whom he called 鈥渁n incredible resource, an incredible leader who is just so supportive in so many different ways,鈥� as well as Flavius R.W. Lilly, PhD, MA, MPH, vice provost of academic and student affairs and vice dean of the Graduate School, who has been involved in his career development.
鈥淲e were all very excited when we hired you. Little did we know what we really had, in terms of what you鈥檝e contributed, not only to the Grid but elsewhere around campus,鈥� Lilly said. 鈥淚 always appreciate seeing the amazing things you are contributing and enjoy watching you really develop as a leader across campus.鈥�
DeBoer said the award reaffirms that he is right where he should be.
鈥淯ntil I took this job, I didn鈥檛 really consider myself to be a career-motivated person. I always thought I鈥檓 going to work hard, I鈥檒l do well,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lot more than that, which has been a very pleasant surprise. It鈥檚 made me realize that I hadn鈥檛 quite found the right place until I got here.鈥�
As Employee of the Month, DeBoer, who has worked for the University for more than two years and also serves on the UMB Staff Senate, will receive a plaque, a letter of commendation, and an extra $250 in his next paycheck.
He is working on virtual programs now but is looking forward to the eventual return of in-person events. He says the Grid will expand its programming with its move this fall to space in the Health Sciences and Human Services Library.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to take some of our programming on the road and go to different schools,鈥� he said.
鈥� Jen Badie
