Juandalynn Taylor: Following the example of her namesake

	Juandalynn Taylor, assistant professor of communication studies, has a passion for promoting cultural heritage.

In the maternity ward of a Milan, Tenn., hospital in the late 1960s, a pregnant woman was browsing through the latest issue of Jet magazine between her contractions. She and her husband had decided to name their baby Alexis Lorraine, but at the last minute, an inspiring article led her to a new name and a new destiny for her child.

Juandalynn Lorraine Taylor, assistant professor of communication studies, would have been named Alexis had her mother not seen an article about Juandalynn Abernathy — daughter of Ralph Abernathy, civil rights leader and former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

With high aspirations that her baby girl would someday be a prominent figure like Juandalynn Abernathy, who is today known for her soprano vocals in spiritual African American music, Taylor's mother impulsively changed the name they had picked for their unborn daughter.

Like the woman with whom she shares a name, Taylor is passionate about promoting cultural heritage. As a communicator and an expert in rhetoric, Taylor makes it her purpose to educate individuals about the importance of self-awareness and social justice through her classes and community involvement. Her passion for social justice stems from her upbringing and the stories relayed by her parents.

"It was my parents' experiences in the 1960s that made me very aware of injustices and opportunities that can be handed to you or taken away," Taylor says.

For instance, Taylor's mother decided not to accept a full medical scholarship to a predominantly white school because of the racist climate and violent period of the civil rights movement.

Her own experiences as an adolescent proved challenging for Taylor, who was the first African American in her school honors courses and on the cheerleading squad. Eventually, she became the first in her family to hold a doctorate. She earned a doctoral degree in communication studies from the University of Texas at Austin. This is her first year at UNT, though she has also taught at universities in Louisiana and Idaho.

With a short record at UNT, Taylor is already forming lasting relationships with her students. Melinda Gonzales, a graduate student, took one of Taylor's graduate seminars and found her to be tremendously committed to her students and willing to help her outside of class.

"She's very much a leader in the classroom," Gonzales says. "Not only does she encourage discussion, but she also goes out of her way to make sure we understand what we're supposed to be learning. She goes above and beyond with the time that she spends with us."

When she's not researching political communication, teaching or spending time with her students, Taylor teaches an aerobics course at a local gym in Denton. She says she plans to start teaching a Brazilian dance class starting this fall. She will also lead a UNT study abroad course in Cuba this summer.

BY ELIZABETH DEL TORO paiswri1@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• Search for UNT College of Engineering dean succeeds with appointment
• UNT names Philip J. Romano inaugural recipient of humanitarian award
• Law conference addresses key higher education issues
• Faculty and staff can vote now for the 2003 Homecoming theme
• Five TAMS students named semifinalists in national Intel science competition
• Admissions Marketing Report awards best of show title to UNT undergraduate viewbook
• HIPAA isn't short for hippopotamus
• Making sure UNT maintains security
• NEA funds national project based on UNT program

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