David Taylor became chief of staff to American University's president in 2000. He previously served as director of media relations (1992-1995) and special assistant to the president (1995-2000). Mr. Taylor works closely with the president and administrative leadership to carry out the president's initiatives and is responsible for presidential communications, issues resolution, community outreach, and other duties on behalf of the president. He oversees the Office of Special Events and WAMU 88.5, and serves as the president's liaison to both on- and off-campus groups and constituencies and to the news media.

In January 2006, he was asked to oversee University Communications and Marketing, and since September 2006, he has been assisting the president with oversight of Athletics and Recreation. The university's intercollegiate athletic program fields 16 Division I sports and competes in the Patriot League, which focuses on both academic and athletic achievement.

He is working with the president and university leadership to assess and augment the university's Web presence.

From November 2003 to March 2005, Mr. Taylor was acting executive director of WAMU, the top-ranked National Public Radio news station in Washington, D.C. WAMU serves more than 500,000 listeners in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, and is a member-supported radio station, known for its high quality programming which includes news and analysis, talk shows, and traditional American music. As acting executive director, Mr. Taylor worked to re-align WAMU's budget, stabilize staffing, and strengthen WAMU's ties to National Public Radio and to the listening area.

Mr. Taylor has 25 years of experience in media relations, communications, and public affairs management in a number of higher education settings, including the University of Maryland-Baltimore, George Washington University, and Emory University. He worked as a national media consultant for Gehrung Associates and represented client universities such as California-Berkeley, Texas A&M, Purdue, William & Mary, Claremont McKenna, Saint Lawrence, and others. He earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.