Taylor awarded for HHP Wall of Fame
The 2024-25 East Carolina University College of Health and Human Performance annual celebration of philanthropy and service event honored HHP outstanding alumni, a new HHP Wall of Fame inductee, HHP Distinguished Service awardees, distinguished Cornerstone Society members and Advancement Council emeritus members.
A full digital program is available, highlighting presentations and award-winners in detail.
Dr. Alan Taylor, second from right, holds his plaque for the HHP Wall of Fame.
HHP Outstanding Alumni awards went to Dr. Emily Tucker (2022 HDFS graduate, medical family therapy doctoral program), Jessica Edwards (2013 and 2017 HDFS graduate) and Tammy Whitten (2000 graduate, family and community services, and 2006 graduate, MS in marriage family therapy).
The HHP Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who are not in the formal organizational structure of HHP, but are nevertheless, wonderful collaborators and friends. HHP Distinguished Service Award honorees have provided great service and collaboration to the college for years and/or it may be in the year they are honored, they truly went above and beyond the call of duty and made a very positive impact. The HHP Distinguished Service Award class of 2024-25 was announced as: Wendy Sergeant, ECU associate vice chancellor in Academic Affairs administration; Stephanie Bond, a marketing professional who has excelled in her career in various leadership positions and is a 2002 HHP alum; Rick Smiley, sponsored programs officer in the ECU Office of Research Administration; Diane Coltraine, academic catalog management in the ECU Office of the Registrar.
Dr. Alan Taylor, professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science and director of HDFS graduate programs, was inducted into the HHP Wall of Fame. Colleague Dr. Jake Jensen presented Taylor his award, saying: “We are really excited in HHP and HDFS that Dr. Alan Taylor is joining the HHP Wall of Fame. Dr. Taylor’s work has been published as a book author and in numerous articles and other publications. He is regarded nationally as an expert in family life education, relationships, and family sciences, but we also know that his impact stretches to reach the international level. He has taken hundreds of our students on study abroad experiences to more than 25 countries, including some highlights of visiting elephant preserves in Africa to snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to volunteering at an elementary school in the tropical Cooke Islands. Students have commented how these trips shaped their lives and expanded their perspective, which speaks to how Dr. Taylor is truly a champion for transforming students’ lives and promoting global thinking and intercultural educational cooperation.
“This recognition today adds to Dr. Taylor’s already award-winning career. For example, he was a 2012 recipient of the ECU Alumni Association’s Robert L. Jones Award for Outstanding Teaching, and in 2021, he won the Cognella Publishing Innovation in Teaching Award for Family Science. He was presented a Global Education Award, and twice has earned an Academic Affairs Faculty Author Book Award. He also has been honored by ECU with a Scholar-Teacher Award, which annually recognizes faculty who effectively integrate research and creativity with their teaching roles.
Overall, this is a very deserving honor. Congratulations to HHP Wall of Fame awardee, Dr. Alan Taylor.”
HHP Cornerstone Society members contributed at least $1,200 to HHP in the 2024 calendar year.