When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Sean Taylor and his team were tasked with leading TCU鈥檚 efforts to maintain a safe environment. Now, 18 months later, he鈥檚 still leading the charge.
鈥淲e鈥檝e essentially created our own health department,鈥� said Taylor, director of emergency management. 鈥淓verybody here has done so much that it really just comes down to the team effort that we have.鈥�
For this effort, Taylor is the inaugural recipient of the TCU Impact Award, which recognizes the extraordinary service of an individual who has made a tremendous impact on the lives of others in the TCU campus community.
鈥淕iven the past year, and all that we have endured during the pandemic, I am recognizing an individual who went over and beyond the call of duty,鈥� said Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. when he announced the award to the campus. 鈥淪ean has worked 24/7 to stay on top of conditions nationally, regionally and campuswide in order to provide sound guidance that has dramatically contributed to the stellar safety record that TCU has accomplished.鈥�
Others noticed as well.
鈥淪ean led our university through an international pandemic, extreme winter weather, multiple vaccination clinics and care coordination/contact tracing for thousands of students,鈥� wrote a nominator. 鈥淎s an office of one, he built relationships with several university leaders to develop communication efforts, recruit contact tracers, assist in care coordination and several other distinctive tasks to lead us in the pandemic.鈥�
Pre-pandemic, Taylor鈥檚 role focused primarily on preparedness, including writing plans for the campus response to possible disasters and hazards.
鈥淒uring the pandemic, obviously none of that stops. It鈥檚 just a lot more response focused. Now every day we鈥檙e in response mode,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ust to know that people appreciate the work that went into it means more than anything else could. I鈥檓 just very honored.鈥�