Ritchie D. Taylor

About Ritchie D. Taylor

Interim Associate Dean in the WKU College of Health and Human Services (CHHS). Skilled in directing research operations, growing the research, innovation, and scholarship enterprise, faculty development, and academic leadership. Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning and implementation to realize University and College mission and vision. Experienced in managing college operations and advancing supports for students, faculty and staff. A proven academic leader and visionary. Gifted in developing academic programs, certificates, and directing programs that attain national accreditation. Experience as acting department chair, as directed by the Dean.In addition, I continue to serve as Principal Investigator of the WKU NIOSH TPG funded through CDC/NIOSH. He leads community-based participatory research (CBPR) studies to evaluate firefighters’ exposure to occupational hazards and have served as a Co-Investigator on research to evaluate volunteer and career firefighters’ exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, diesel particulates, asbestos, and other occupational hazards in rural environments. In this work, we collaborate with the Green River Firefighters Association, Kentucky Firefighters Association, Kentucky Fire Commission, and the University of Cincinnati NIOSH ERC. My research continues to address environmental science and health issues in rural communities through research with students that includes firefighter health, occupational safety and health, public health preparedness, evaluation of hazardous materials transport, stormwater management, water quality, and air quality.

Experience

1. Interim Associate Dean, College of Health and Human Services

   Western Kentucky University

   Jul 2025 — Present · Bowling Green, KY, US

   Interim Associate Dean responsible for leading research operations, faculty development, faculty workload planning, and strategic initiatives. A key role is supporting leadership and faculty of the College through the continuance, tenure, and promotion digital workflows of the University. Assist the Dean with day to day operations of the college, student recruitment and retention, corporate and community engagement, and representing the college on WKU committees and events. Additional duties include leading the CHHS Applied Research Centers and Council, directing the research management team for the college, serving as acting department chair or school director of CHHS units, as needed, and leading initiatives or processes for the college as directed by the Dean. A continuous role is evaluation of CHHS policies and processes to improve efficiencies and create opportunities for growth and improvement.

Education

• Tennessee Technological University

  MS, Biology, Environmental Science Emphasis

  1989 — 1992

• University of North Texas

  PhD, Environmental Science

  1997 — 2002

• Belmont University

  BS, Biology, Chemistry minor

  1984 — 1989