Rachel Ayres, News Editor and Kyle Evers, Editor-in-Chief
This spring marks President Beck Taylor’s last season serving at Whitworth University. Since July 2010, Taylor has led Whitworth as the university’s 18th president. May 31, 2021, will mark Taylor’s last day in office before he becomes president of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, on July 1.
In honor of the last weeks of Taylor’s presidency, The Whitworthian Editor-In-Chief, sophomore Kyle Evers, sat down with Taylor for a Q&A.
KE: What has been your most profound experience here at Whitworth?
BT: Generally, what I have appreciated most and what has been so profoundly impactful in my life has been the relationships that I have formed with students and employees over the many years. Whitworth likes to talk about the value of community a lot, and perhaps there are students that roll their eyes when they hear that word because we talk about it so much. However, I think those same students would also say – and I certainly would say – that it is community that is so special about this place.
KE: What is your hope for the university moving forward?
BT: I firmly believe that Whitworth’s best days are ahead… because the university is on such a positive trajectory right now in almost every area. I’m convinced that Whitworth will continue to grow, thrive and live out its mission. I think my highest hope for the institution would be that it would continue to live faithfully into this mission that combines faith and reason in compelling and winsome ways that equip students for lives of meaning and service.
KE: When you first arrived at Whitworth in 2010, what was your biggest goal?
BT: Not to screw it up, and I say that with some seriousness. I inherited a university from President Bill Robinson that under his tenure experienced had amazing growth and success. I often joke that my daily prayer in this office is, ‘Lord, don’t let me screw this up.’ But more than that, I was able to take a university that was very secure in its identity, mission and calling and really steward it to be more visionary… I think that as I came in the door 11 years ago, I was particularly energized to help the institution articulate an exciting vision for itself.
KE: What are you going to miss most about Spokane?
BT: We love this region and this city. As president of Whitworth, I’ve had the opportunity to invest a lot of my time and effort into the flourishing of this community by serving on various civic boards and in other nonprofit organizations. We’ve raised our family here. When we arrived at Whitworth, we had three children at home, including our youngest, Chloe, who was three at the time…This place will always hold a special meaning for us. I will just miss walking on this campus every day and experiencing the Whitworth community, love and unity that we feel at this place when we put our minds together to do important things… I will miss our relationships and this place dearly.
KE: 11 years is a long time to spend in one place. How has this shaped you personally and even your family?
BT: God has taught us patience in the journey. I am a driven person. I am goal oriented. I like to do things and have lots of things going at one time. And even though that attribute has been important in my leadership, what God has taught me is that life is a marathon and not a sprint. And that no matter how hard I’ve tried, I can’t control the timing of things. I can’t control how things are done or how outcomes are arrived at. In 11 years, you learn a lot about yourself in a community, but you also learn a lot about how God is faithful over that time. I’ve seen God’s faithfulness in some amazing ways. 11 years has allowed us to grow some really deep roots here…Our daughter, Lauren, was a student here. To watch her grow, thrive and experience Whitworth in all the ways a president would hope any student would experience Whitworth – but certainly his daughter – has given me such lasting confidence in what this university is all about. I am so grateful to have seen her experience up close because if I didn’t have that experience, I’m not sure I would know as intimately how important this community is in the development of women and men who are called here.
KE: What is your advice for the next Whitworth president, when he or she is chosen?
BT: My advice to any new leader here would be to flat out love the students. This is the key because Whitworth is their community, and they will find a way to love you right back. The relationships that I’ve developed over the years with students are the most special in my life.
KE: What’s your final message to the Whitworth community?
BT: As simple as it sounds, my final message would be to love each other. That’s a lot easier said than done. But, as a Christian community dedicated to preparing students for a meaningful life in the world, I hope that this community is known for its love. [I hope] that students are known for loving each other, that faculty are known for loving the opportunities to guide and mentor students, that this campus embraces opportunities to love its community and that we show the love of Christ in all that we do. So I would encourage this community to be known as a community of love.