James E. Taylor, PhD

James E. Taylor is both Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer & Chief Learning Officer at UPMC, one of the nation’s largest and most successful integrated health systems. In his capacity as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Taylor is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic diversity initiatives which differentiate UPMC. To this end, Taylor executes leading-edge and next-generation diversity strategies to advance the organization’s diversity management capability, and its national presence as a diversity leader. As Chief Learning Officer, Taylor is responsible for developing an integrated learning strategy that provides the organization with highly-effective and technologically-advanced employee learning, leadership development, and consultative services aligned to the institution’s strategic priorities.

Prior to joining UPMC, Taylor served as Chief Learning & Diversity Officer at Carolinas HealthCare System. In this role, Taylor was charged with ensuring the visibility and influence of diversity of Carolinas HealthCare System through the development of products and services that enhanced the cultural competence of the workforce, and improved its competitive position in the marketplace. Dr. Taylor has also served as Executive Director, Diversity Strategy Execution and Workplace Inclusion at Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest managed care organization and not-for-profit health plan.

Taylor earned both a doctorate and master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, and completed his undergraduate studies at Ithaca College in New York, where he now serves on the Board of Trustees. He also received an executive leadership certificate from the Harvard Business School of Harvard University. Taylor has been awarded for his work both within and outside of health care, as he is actively engaged in many philanthropic and community based endeavors, holding multiple board appointments and supporting numerous charitable activities.