Christie Taylor is an accomplished higher education professional with over two decades of experience in academic governance, administration, and institutional leadership. Since June 2021, she has served as the secretary to the Board of Trustees at Howard University, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing the University's mission and supporting its strategic initiatives.   

Before joining Howard University, Taylor was associate secretary of the MIT Corporation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In this role, she supported the governance and engagement of MIT's 78-member board. Her tenure was marked by initiatives to enhance trustee orientation, expand board programming, and deepen collaboration among trustees, alumni, donors, and institutional leaders. She also played a key role in integrating governance with institutional priorities through partnerships with deans, department heads, and development officers.   

Taylor's decade-long career at Harvard University included leadership roles across multiple units. As director of administration for the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies, she elevated the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts as a hub for intellectual and artistic discourse. In the Department of Maternal and Child Health, she spearheaded operational and financial restructuring, doubling research funding and improving staff efficiency. Earlier, as department administrator for University Operations Services, she managed Harvard’s largest fee-for-service business unit and led the university’s commencement planning efforts.   

Taylor’s commitment to institutional excellence extends beyond her professional roles. She has contributed to several organizations, including the MIT Endicott House, the Association of Board Secretaries, and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, where she participated in Brown University's 2018 reaccreditation team. Her dedication to mentorship is evident in her work with MIT’s Mentor Advocate Partnership program and her efforts to guide mid-level administrators at each stop in her career.   

Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Boston University and a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her career reflects a deep commitment to fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and upholding the values of excellence and service in higher education.   

As a key leader at Howard University, Christie Taylor is instrumental in guiding the institution's governance and ensuring its legacy as a premier center for intellectual and cultural advancement.