Citadel psychology professor awarded Fulbright Distinguished Chair

Lloyd “Chip” Taylor to research protective factors for bullying among children and adolescents

Citadel psychology professor, husband and father of four is earning international recognition for receiving the 2016-17 Fulbright Canada-Palix Foundation Distinguished Visiting Research Chair. Fulbright Canada and the Palix Foundation have partnered to create and support a program of distinguished research chairs that focus on brain science and child and family wellness.

Lloyd “Chip” Taylor, Ph.D., and his family, will embark on their journey to the University of Calgary in Canada this spring as he prepares to conduct research focused on understanding the role of knowledge and resilience as protective factors of bullying and ostracism among children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). His research will include describing the prevalence of bullying experiences, exploring the relationship between externalizing and internalizing behaviors and examining potential protective factors which can serve as interventions to address ostracism among children.

“This work is significant for numerous reasons,” said Taylor. “It provides an opportunity to understand risk and resilience factors for this specific group of children, and has the potential to help shape policy and enhance the clinical work of practitioners.”

The methodology for Taylor’s project will include the recruitment of 50 to 100 youth between the ages of 8 and 15 who have previously been diagnosed with ADHD. The measures to analyze the children include surveys, questionnaires, screenings and interviews about their experiences.

“Dr. Taylor’s leadership in the field of pediatric psychology has earned him a place among some of the world’s best scholars and educators,” said Provost and Dean of the College, Connie Book, Ph.D. “We are very proud to have Dr. Taylor and his family represent The Citadel during his Fulbright year at the University of Calgary.”

Taylor, a native of Radford, Virginia, received his B.S. from the University of Tennessee as a Whittle Scholar, and was the top graduating senior in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1996. He completed his master’s and doctoral degrees at The University of Alabama in 1999 and 2002, respectively. In 2006, he joined the faculty at The Citadel and served as the Arland D. Williams Professor of Heroism from 2008-11. He teaches courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels within the Department of Psychology.

Taylor’s family will join him on this temporary move to Canada. His wife, Erica, and their four children, Walker, Charlie, Enuka and Kelly Grey expect to learn a lot as indirect beneficiaries of Taylor’s prestigious appointment.

“My family is very excited about this new adventure,” said Taylor. “There is a component of letting go and embracing life experiences and opportunities that my wife, Erica, and I are trying to instill in our children and this is a perfect chance to let them stretch and grow in this domain. We are excited to expose them to new academic challenges and environments.”

The Taylor family is looking forward to exploring Alberta and nearby Banff National Park, Canada’s oldest national park. On their “Fulbright Bucket List” is a trip to visit Churchill, Canada where they will be able to see polar bears and the Northern Lights.

Photo: Erica, Charlie, Walker, Enuka and Kelly Grey with Chip Taylor

Taylor has published numerous articles focusing on the psychological impacts of chronic illness, ADHD and heroism and bullying among school children. He has served on the NCAA Division 1 Academic Board, as the president of the Southern Conference (SOCON), as the president of the South Carolina Psychological Association (SCPA), and currently serves as the ethics chair for the SCPA.

About The Citadel

The Citadel, with its iconic campus located in Charleston, South Carolina offers a classic military college education for young men and women profoundly focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. Approximately 30 percent of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets commission as officers in every branch of U.S. military service upon graduating. Citadel alumni have served the nation, their state and their communities as principled leaders since the college was founded in 1842. The Citadel Graduate College offers more than 70 graduate degrees, graduate certificates, and evening undergraduate programs with many courses available online. The Citadel has been named Best Public College in the South for six consecutive years, and #1 Best Public College for Veterans in the South by U.S. News and World Report, as well as the best value out of all South Carolina colleges and universities, by Forbes.