If Wim Taylor has a “fraction of the kind of impact” that his grandmother had, he will know he lived right. The managing director of AU Catalyst, a new undergraduate mentorship program empowering the next generation of leaders, credits his educator grandmother—and mother—with encouraging him to lift others as he climbs. Today, “I’m merely teaching those who I serve what [the women in my life have] taught me,” he said.

Over the course of his 17-year tenure at American University, Taylor has cemented a reputation as an enthusiastic and gifted mentor. He joined AU in 2002, serving as associate director for undergraduate programs in the Kogod School of Business for two years before departing to pursue other ventures. He returned to the university in 2008, building out a multifaceted career in higher education through student-counseling, alumni-engagement, and employer-relations work—experience he now leverages to unlock Eagles’ potential.

Taylor currently manages the Frederick Douglass Distinguished Scholars (FDDS) program, established in 2010 and set to graduate its final five-student cohort in 2026. In this capacity, Taylor has worked closely with 20 scholars each year, helping them identify their goals and talents and position themselves for post-graduate success.

This semester, however, Taylor is transitioning into also managing AU Catalyst—engineered with input from students, alumni, and other stakeholders. Much like FDDS, Catalyst, which will enroll its first cohort in fall 2024, will organize “like-minded, hungry, and humble” Eagles into support networks. Participants will benefit from mentorship and enrichment opportunities, including networking receptions and volunteer outings, and may request financial help for study-abroad and graduate-school applications. 

All students, including those who are Pell-eligible, are invited to apply in the spring semester of their first year. Sixteen to 20 will earn acceptance annually.

Through AU Catalyst, Taylor not only looks forward to serving a larger cohort of students but also convening with people who value relationships—Eagles like Faith Massey, CAS/BA ’25, with whom he connected after his wife, Amanda Taylor, assistant vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion, realized the two shared a worldview.

The sociology major learned from Taylor the importance of establishing professional ties—and always following up. For example, if a mentor recommends a book, you should circle back with insights gleaned from the work. Massey applied this strategy with a mentor she met at a networking event and earned a recommendation for her current job.

“[Taylor] listened to my story. He listened to my goals, and then he helped me strategize and form a plan,” Massey said. “I know I’m able to lean on him when I need him.” 

As is the case with Massey, who is not a FDDS or AU Catalyst student, Taylor’s impact stretches beyond the scope of programs he oversees. “If [a student is] willing to do the work, I’ll put all my chips in the middle of the table,” he said. 

Taylor considers himself part of a movement much larger than himself, explaining he could name 20 other staffers promoting student success. “Long after I’m gone, [my mentees] will be doing my grandmother’s work,” he said. In fact, “they’re already doing it.”

Applications for the AU Catalyst program are open until Monday, February 19.