When she arrived at 精品成人福利在线 more than 35 years ago, Professor Marilyn Tayler, the coordinator of the Jurisprudence Program and the University鈥檚 pre-law advisor, didn鈥檛 start in the Department of Political Science and Law. 鈥淚 came to 精品成人福利在线 in 1975 as an assistant professor of Spanish,鈥 she says, 鈥渁 newly minted PhD specializing in Latin American Literature.鈥
Since then, she earned a JD from Seton Hall University and has taught more than 20 different undergraduate and graduate courses鈥攐ften developing the courses herself鈥攁nd advised students in Spanish, paralegal studies, legal studies, justice studies, political science jurisprudence and pre-law. Tayler takes her role as advisor very seriously: 鈥淎dvising, to me, has always meant 鈥榤aking a difference鈥欌攎otivating, encouraging, inspiring and challenging students to do and be their very best.鈥
Tayler鈥檚 dedication to advising and mentoring has made a difference in the lives countless former students. 鈥淪he always makes herself available to any student who needs guidance and gives individualized attention to everyone,鈥 says Dorothy Kenney 鈥09, a former student who recently graduated from Rutgers Law School. 鈥淚 am happy to call Dr. Tayler not only a mentor but a true friend as well.鈥
Alireza 鈥淎li鈥 Abedin 鈥09 who graduated from Rutgers Law School with Kenney agrees: 鈥淪he is a mentor in the truest sense of the word, and her guidance and counseling surely does not end once her 鈥榢ids鈥 graduate. To say that she cares is an understatement.鈥
Tayler鈥檚 exemplary commitment to her teaching and advising has not gone unnoticed by the University either. She has received many awards from 精品成人福利在线 including the Outstanding Academic Advising Award (2010), the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean鈥檚 Recognition Award for Teaching (2008), the University鈥檚 Distinguished Teacher Award (2005), the University鈥檚 Outstanding Faculty Award (1995), the Student Government Association Excellence in Education Award (1995), the Educational Opportunity Fund Service Award (1986 and 1989) and 精品成人福利在线 Merit Awards (1982 and 1987).
鈥淚 consider student mentoring to be a fundamental aspect of my role as a teacher,鈥 says Tayler. 鈥淭hat one-to-one relationship鈥ften endures for many years after the student leaves my classes. Helping students to achieve their professional and personal goals has always been a high priority for me.鈥
As one of the many students that Tayler has taught and mentored, Kenney knows this first hand: 鈥淒r. Tayler not only taught me the law, but also imparted an appreciation of how and why it applied in the real world,鈥 she says. 鈥淪he has been instrumental in shaping my education and career and I will be forever grateful.鈥