College of Health and Human Services

Brandon Taylor

Associate Professor

Recreation Administration | 559.278.2315 | Office: PHS 139

Education

Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
Emphasis: Organizational Management, Development, and Leadership

Master of Arts in Kinesiology, Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, CA
Emphasis: Advanced Methods of Teaching Physical Education

Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration, California State University, Fresno, CA
Emphasis: Leisure Service Management

Associate in Arts Degree, Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, CA

Courses Taught

RA 55. Foundations and Careers in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism
RA 60. Technologies in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism
RA 77S. Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Programming
RA 113. Programming for At-Risk Youth
RA 121. Community and Non-Profit Recreation Services
RA 128. Legal and Financial Aspects of RPT
RA 128L. Legal and Financial Aspects of RPT Laboratory
RA 139. Research and Evaluation in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism
RA 184. Internship in RPT
HHS 115S. Applied Collaborative Leadership in Health and Human Services (Honors course)
HHS 114S. Foundations of Interprofessional Collaboration (Honors course)

Dr. Brandon T. Taylor is an Associate Professor of Recreation Administration at California State University, Fresno, where he helps prepare students for careers that strengthen communities through parks, recreation, youth development, nonprofit services, and public-sector leadership. A Fresno State alumnus himself, he has gone from student to municipal recreation professional to professor and statewide professional leader.

Dr. Taylor earned a B.S. in Recreation Administration from Fresno State, an M.A. in Kinesiology from Fresno Pacific University, and a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. His teaching and scholarship focus on community recreation, youth development, organizational leadership, social equity, program quality, and the preparation of the next generation of recreation professionals.

Before transitioning to higher education, Dr. Taylor built more than a decade of professional experience with recreation agencies in California's Central Valley. That professional experience now informs his work with Fresno State students. Dr. Taylor began teaching at the university in 2009.

Dr. Taylor's scholarship and community-engaged work connect academic research with challenges facing recreation agencies and communities. His work has addressed youth development, recreation service quality, organizational leadership, diversity and inclusion, social equity, interprofessional collaboration, and community engagement.

Professional service has been another defining element of his career. A member of the California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) since 2000, Dr. Taylor has served at the district, section, regional, and state levels, including service on the CPRS State Board. His contributions have earned him numerous professional honors, including the CPRS President's Award for outstanding contributions to the profession.

Above all, Dr. Taylor's professional journey represents a full-circle Fresno State story: a Recreation Administration graduate who built a career serving communities and returned to his alma mater to help prepare the next generation of professionals to do the same.

Organizational Management, Development, and Leadership; Leisure Education; Youth Development; Consumer Perceptions of Recreation Services; Social Equity through Leisure Programming

Peer-Reviewed Articles/ Book Chapters

Taylor, B., Vilhauer, H. (2022). Diversity and Changing Demographics in our Communities: The Need for Inter-Professional Collaboration. In S.L. & J.H. (Eds.), Interprofessional Collaboration in Parks, Recreation and Human Services: Theory and Cases. Sagamore-Venture. Champaign, IL.

Taylor, B., Gutfeld, L. (2022). An Inter-Professional Collaboration That Wasn’t. In S.L. & J.H. (Eds.), Interprofessional Collaboration in Parks, Recreation and Human Services: Theory and Cases. Sagamore-Venture. Champaign, IL.

Taylor, B. (2019). Quality Recreation and Youth Activity Levels: A Study Worth Addressing. California Parks & Recreation.

Invited Articles

Taylor, B., & Vilhauer, H. (2021). Creating an Inclusive Culture within your Organization. California Parks & Recreation.

Vilhauer, H. & Taylor, B. (2021). Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Parks and Recreation. California Parks & Recreation.

Refereed Presentations

Taylor, B., & Vilhauer, H. (2022) Social Determinants of Health: A pathway towards sustainable recreation-related health outcomes through Inter-Professional Collaboration. [Conference presentation]. California Parks and Recreation Society Research Symposium. Sacramento, CA.

Taylor, B., Green, J, & Espinoza-Roa, N (2022) JEDI and Your Agency: The Small Steps to Make Big Changes in Your Organization [Conference presentation]. California Parks and Recreation Society Research Symposium. Sacramento, CA.

Vilhauer, H. & Taylor, B. (2021). An Open Conversation on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Camps [Conference presentation]. Western Association of Independent Camps.

Taylor, B., & Karas, S. (2020). Embracing Our Diverse Communities [Conference presentation]. California Parks and Recreation Society Research Symposium. Sacramento, CA.

Whiting, J., Lankford, S., & Taylor, B. (2019) The Role of Snow Parks in Providing Winter Recreation Opportunities for Racial/Ethnic Minorities in the Central Valley [Conference presentation]. California Parks and Recreation Society Research Symposium. Sacramento, CA.

Lankford, S., Lankford, J., Kooiman, W., Taylor, B., & Whiting, J. (2019). Differences Of Internet And Intercept Survey Findings In Visitor Studies: Hood River County, Oregon [Conference presentation]. California Parks and Recreation Society Leisure Education & Research Symposium, Sacramento, CA

Taylor, B. (2018). Correlational analysis of government-managed recreation agencies and youth activity levels [Conference presentation]. California Parks and Recreation Society Leisure Education & Research Symposium, Sacramento, CA.

Lankford, S.V., Taylor, B., Rickman, A., Mahoney, M., Nisbett, N., Fine, L.J., Lankford, J., Karas, S., Chilingerian, J., Mollinedo, M., & Whiting, J. (2017). Impact of Community Engagement on Student Learning & Success [Conference presentation]. California Parks and Recreation Society Leisure Education & Research Symposium, Sacramento, CA.

Invited Presentations

Taylor, B. (2020). Keynote: The 7 C’s of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion [Workshop presentation]. CPRS Region 1.

Taylor, B., & Green, J. (2020). Keynote Workshop: JEDI and Your Agency: The Small Steps to Make Big Changes in Your Organization [Workshop presentation]. CPRS District 8 Fall Forum.

Taylor, B. (2019). Including Children & Youth with Disruptive Behaviors. Tulare County Office of Education. Facilitated worship for after-school staff in Porterville Unified School District, Porterville, CA.

Taylor, B. (2019). Cultural Competence: Identity, Diversity & Engagement. Tulare County Office of Education. Facilitated worship for after-school staff in Porterville Unified School District, Porterville, CA.

Taylor, B., Terry, C. (2018) Cultivating Cultural Competence: Exploring Identity, Diversity, and Engagement [Conference presentation]. Best Out Of School Time Conference, Palm Springs, CA

Taylor, B., Terry, C. (2018) Leading Ourselves: Deepening Self-Awareness [Conference presentation]. Best Out of School Time Conference, Palm Springs, CA

Taylor, B. (2017). Including Children and Youth with Disruptive Behaviors. California Park and Recreation District VII Summer Leader’s Workshop. Facilitated worship for Central Valley Region summer recreation department employees.

Taylor, B. (2016). Going Deeper: Exploring Diversity. California Teaching Fellows Academy. Facilitated worship for aspiring teachers at California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA.

Taylor, B. (2016). Building Relationships with Children and Youth. City of Reedley. Facilitated worship for after-school staff at the City of Reedley Community Center, Reedley, CA.

Taylor, B. (2016). Homework Assistance. California Teaching Fellows Academy. Facilitated worship for aspiring teachers at California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA.

Taylor, B. (2016). The Role of the Staff in Behavior Guidance. California Teaching Fellows Academy. Facilitated worship for aspiring teachers at California State University Fresno, CA.

Taylor, B. (2016). Beyond Behavior Guidance. California Teaching Fellows Academy. Facilitated worship for aspiring teachers at California State University Fresno, CA.

Taylor, B. (2016). Professionalism.Fresno Unified School District. Facilitated worship for supervisor-level after-school program staff in Fresno, CA.

Taylor, B. (2016). Knowing Yourself as a Leader. Central California Therapeutic Recreation Symposium. Facilitated worship for students and regional professionals at California State University Fresno, CA.

Taylor, B. (2016). San Joaquin Valley Communities: Challenges, Opportunities, and Successes. San Joaquin Valley Parks Summit. Moderator for Director’s workshop on issues important to municipal park development at Bitwise Industries, Fresno, CA.

Taylor, B. (2016). Sustainable Parks and Recreation Initiative (SPARCI) Poster Presentation. Academic poster on university and community collaborative benefits at Bitwise Industries, Fresno, CA.

Taylor, B. (2016). SPARCI Mini-Symposium. Presented the importance of collaborative efforts among university departments in addressing Fresno area community recreation agencies’ issues at Bitwise Industries, Fresno, CA.

Taylor, B. (2015). College Achievement Now (CAN) Program for Allan Hancock College. Student recruitment presentation focusing on Fresno State’s Recreation Administration Department at California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA.

Campus-Related Presentations

Taylor, B. (2020). Unprejudiced Yourself: Teaching with Modesty. Presented to the Tenure-Track Faculty Network during new faculty orientation.

Taylor, B. (2020). Unprejudiced Yourself: Serving with Modesty. Presented to California Park and Recreation Society, District 3: Rec Talk Live.

Taylor, B. (2020). True Colors Presentation. Presented to the staff of the Henry Madden Library.

Taylor, B. (2019). Collaborative Teamwork. Presented to students in the Lyles College of Engineering.

Taylor, B. (2019). Knowing Yourself as A Leader. Presented to faculty in the President’s Leadership Program.

Taylor, B. (2018). Community Building. Presented to the Tenure-Track Faculty Network during new faculty orientation.

Taylor, B. (2018). Supporting cultural diversity and equity. Presented to the Tenure-Track Faculty Network during new faculty orientation.

Taylor, B. (2015). Really? You can get a degree in Recreation. Presented Recreation Administration as an area of study at Fresno State, potential career opportunities, and experiences students gain from courses work within the department for FHS-HERO State Leadership Conference in Fresno, CA.

Grants Written / Contracts for Service

Lankford, S., Lankford, J., & Taylor, B. (2019). City of Kerman Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Funded for $23,067.55.

Taylor, B. (2019). Faculty Technology Support Funds. Funded for $1,000.

Taylor, B., Cronin, T. (2018). Kaiser Permanente Healthy Community Initiative. Not funded.

Taylor, B., Cronin, T. (2018). Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation. Not funded. The grant focused on combating Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through youth engagement.

Taylor, B., Lankford, S. (2016). Research, Scholarship & Creativities Award Funded for $4,085 to complete research on parents’ perceptions of service quality and youth activity levels in the Central Valley.

Taylor, B., Lankford, S. (2016). Touch the Community Funded $2,500 for collaboration with the City of Fresno Parks, Recreation, Afterschool, and Community Services Department for comparative analysis of recreation-related programming across California.