Dr. Robert W. Taylor, founding director of the W.W. Caruth Jr. Police Institute and formerly a department chairman at The University of North Texas (UNT), will join the UT Dallas faculty in January.

Taylor is scheduled to become the program head for public affairs in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences next fall. In the meantime, he will serve as a professor of public affairs.

“I enjoyed my work at Caruth, but I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to join UT Dallas and become part of a university that is on track to become Texas’ next Tier One research institution,” he said. “I have long been impressed by the faculty and young scholars in public administration and criminology at UT Dallas.”

Taylor spent 15 years at UNT and helped form the $9.5 million police institute funded by the Communities Foundation of Texas three years ago. The primary mission of the institute is to provide direction and coordination of executive development and research projects for the Dallas Police Department. It represents a national “think tank” on policing strategies focused on major urban cities in the United States. Police officials from throughout the world have visited the center to learn about research findings and develop models for better policing strategies. He will continue working on projects with the Caruth Police Institute as a representative of UT Dallas.

While some of Taylor’s research will continue to focus on policing, he will also help EPPS strengthen its existing public administration and governance programs in public affairs. He wants to expand students’ and researchers’ links to other local government institutions. He envisions more opportunities for undergraduates and graduate students to train for careers tied to evolving fields, such as transportation planning, health care, environmental studies and public administration.

Dr. James Marquart, dean of EPPS, said Taylor will be a valuable addition to the faculty.

“Dr. Taylor will bring a broad range of experience in public affairs to our school,” he said. “He will be a great advocate for our program and will help our students prepare for successful careers in an array of public management roles.”

Taylor’s research has focused on police responses to crime and terrorism, and he has traveled extensively throughout the world, especially Southeast Asia and the Middle East. He has acted as a consultant to many federal agencies on intelligence analysis and terrorism. Since September 11, 2001, he has been a consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice working with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research.

Taylor has written or co-written more than 200 articles, books and manuscripts.  Most of his publications focus on international and domestic terrorism, police administration and management, police procedures, drug trafficking and criminal justice policy.

In 2003, he was awarded the University of North Texas Regent’s Lecture Award for his work in the Middle East. The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in 2008 presented Taylor with the prestigious O.W. Wilson Award in recognition of his contribution to police education, research and practice.

Taylor earned a master of science degree at Michigan State University and received his PhD from Portland State University in 1981.