Dr. Reginald Taylor, associate professor and director of predoctoral orthodontics at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, was recently accepted into the American Dental Education Association Council of Deans Fellowship Program for 2026-27. The program helps future leaders succeed as deans or other high-level university administrators. 

Taylor is A&M Dentistry’s first Fellow of the council. 

“I am preparing to be a dean …,” he said. “Where, I haven’t narrowed that down yet, but it will be a place where I think I can do the most good and I can use my skill sets the best to help the institution.” 

ADEA developed the program in response to a recognized need to help the next generation of leaders gain exposure to the unique complexities, activities and people that deans and other top academic leadership face in their roles. Fellows receive intense mentoring from their deans, visit other institutions to receive additional mentoring and engage in formal leadership-development activities with mentors and peers both onsite and online. 

The Fellows complete career development plans, and each participant develops a capstone project. Taylor is researching a potential satellite clinic for the 120-year-old dental college.

“There have been some thoughts in that direction, but no one, to my knowledge, has gotten all the players together so we can hash out what’s needed and, most important, how and by whom the endeavor will be financed,” he said. 

Dr. Lily T. García, A&M Dentistry’s dean, approved Taylor’s research endeavor. She encouraged Taylor to seek input from Dr. Jacqueline Plemons, clinical professor in periodontics and director of external affairs; Dr. Jennifer Barrington, associate dean for clinical affairs; Dr. Liang Hong, head of public health sciences; and Dr. Erica Teixeira, head of comprehensive dentistry. 

“Dr. Taylor’s selection for the ADEA Council of Deans Fellowship program is a testament to his leadership and vision for the future of dental education,” García said. “His exploration of a potential satellite clinic aligns with our commitment to expanding access to care and preparing our college to meet the evolving oral health needs of the communities we serve for the last 120 years and beyond.” 

The Fellows will submit their research findings in late February. The other four Fellows are from Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. 

Taylor will celebrate 26 years of working at A&M Dentistry in August. He served as associate dean of graduate and professional programs for three years and learned how effective deans are in helping students in all departments.  

“Communication is the key and not just talking to people but listening to people and communicating at all levels,” he said. “At least making sure that effective communication is taking place at all levels; if you can’t physically get to a group of people, you want to have someone who can and will take the message, the coordinated message, to them. You have to let people know that you are listening.” 

Taylor received his dental degree from Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1987 and his orthodontics certificate and Doctor of Medical Science in oral biology in 1992 from Harvard and the Forsyth Dental Center. His first full-time faculty position was at the University of Alabama, where he taught pre- and post-doctoral orthodontics.