Taran McZee

Taran McZee and his team are charged with creating a campus climate that supports equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, especially for historically marginalized students, faculty and staff. In particular, under McZee’s leadership, the team is working to develop and implement a college-wide framework for cultivation and accountability for every member of Albion College.

McZee has worked at three other small, private liberal art institutions and has successfully transformed and acquired a well-documented track record of diversity, strategic planning, coalition building, DEI training and campus-wide collaboration. He has advanced and created new territory in the area of inclusive excellence and social justice work. McZee looks forward to cultivating, engaging, supporting and inspiring an institution to recognize the value of inclusion and belonging work.

McZee earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice and his master’s degree in educational administration and community leadership, both from Central Michigan University. He is completing his dissertation for a doctorate from the University of Kentucky.

He belongs to the National Association of Diversity Officer in Higher Education (NADOHE), the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education, the John D. O’Bryant National Think Tank (JDOTT), the Black Boys and Men Symposium Committee and the Commission for Racial Justice and Equity.

Throughout his career, McZee has received several awards and honors, including the completion of DEI Certification with the National Association for Diversity Officer in Higher Education, the HEED Award from INSIGHT into Diversity Higher Education, the Innovator Award from the Kentucky College Personnel Association, the YMCA Black Achiever of the Year award from the YMCA of Central Kentucky, the Golden Apple Award from Fayette County Public Schools and the Distinguished Award for Diversity at Hanover College.