Please tell us about yourself.
My name is Gerri Taylor. I worked in college health for 34 years at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, as a board-certified Adult Nurse Practitioner, Director of the Health Center and Associate Dean of Health, Counseling and Wellness and loved every minute of it. I was fortunate to be introduced to ACHA and NECHA (New England College Health Association) by my first Director at Bentley and soon began attending annual meetings of both organizations. I found wonderful colleagues, great support and incredibly invaluable information to increase my knowledge of college health and help me to be a better NP, director and associate dean. Every year, I brought back valuable information for my staff, my colleagues at Bentley and even the president, vice-presidents and trustees. They also came to appreciate the value of ACHA. ACHA/NECHA were often our lifelines in critical health situations. I learned more about ACHF, the foundation arm of ACHA and how it supported research and projects which could not exist without ACHF support. The sponsored programs provided models for all of us in supporting the health of our college students. I began involvement not only as a recipient of the good work of ACHA and ACHF, but also active in ACHA when I was asked to be a “member at large”, president of NECHA, the Chair of Program Planning for the annual ACHA meetings held in Washington DC and Orlando and then most recently Co-chair of the ACHA COVID-19 Task Force. Each of these positions helped me to learn more and more about college health and grow as a professional. I have made life-long friends who I treasure from all over the United States and I believe I could call on each one of them anytime! They have even supported my invitation to become a surveyor of college health centers for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, which I am now doing in semi-retirement. I am indebted to ACHA for its support and the support and friendship of my wonderful colleagues.
How would you describe your personal mission or philosophy?
When I earned my master’s degree as a nurse practitioner, I knew I wanted to work with college students. I believe that in most cases, college is the first time they need to deal with health situations on their own and that they should be provided with the best quality of health care, health promotion, counseling and support. My personal philosophy has always been to do whatever I can to improve the quality of health services and care for our college students. And in semi-retirement, I plan to do this through my work as a surveyor for AAAHC. I also hope to advocate for colleges to become accredited to ensure the quality of care they are providing and showcase that to their colleagues, families, presidents and trustees.
What first inspired you to support the Foundation? What does it mean to you to support the Foundation and ACHA?
I believe it is very important for each and every one of us to give back when able to an organization which has provided so much for us. I certainly could not have accomplished all I have for our students without ACHA and ACHF support. I think of the webinars, programs, education, collaborations – what I have gained from ACHA is immeasurable.
How do you feel when you make a gift to the Foundation?
I always feel good when donating to ACHF. I have donated to support the organization, to honor a colleague in memory for their work or to recognize a colleague for an accomplishment. There are so many reasons to make a donation for worthy causes and ACHF is near and dear to my heart and where I, as a college health professional, choose to make donations. I also believe that if EVERY attendee to our ACHA annual meeting would give even a small donation, ACHF would be able to provide funding for more projects and research that will provide new knowledge for all of us.
What do you hope to accomplish through your philanthropy?
I hope to improve the health environment, services and care for our students.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about donating to the Foundation?
Even a small donation means a lot – if only every member of ACHA would give a donation – it would fund some work that hard working college health professionals have done and allow them to share it with all of us. I have seen such great projects which have been replicated on campus after campus – the knowledge is shared and improves the health of college students even in very small colleges which do not have the funds to do this work on their own.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering with ACHA or ACHF?
With each volunteer opportunity with ACHA, I have wondered if I had the time in my schedule or if I could do it, but my parents always encouraged me to take risks and I took the risk and have never ever regretted it – each opportunity has helped me to learn, stretch and grow. And through it I have met life-long colleagues. It is so important to give back to these two organizations which have given us so much.
What is your favorite memory with ACHA?
My favorite memories of ACHA are the Zoom phone calls with our ACHA COVID-19 Task Force, a group of college health leaders, who represented the very BEST of our organization.
What makes you hopeful for the future?
Being with young people – teens and young adults – whose optimism for the future is contagious as they continue to ask questions, have new ideas and believe that anything is possible.
What is a fun fact about you?
That I love photography and my favorite photograph is one of a leopard coming down a hill in South Africa looking right at me!!
