Senate Resolution No. 1314

BY: Senator BRESLIN

HONORING Theresa E. Taylor upon the occasion of
her designation as recipient of the Excellence in
Public Service Award by the University at Albany
Alumni Association

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Theresa E. Taylor upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of
the Excellence in Public Service Award by the University at Albany
Alumni Association to be celebrated with a Gala on May 4, 2019, at
Wolfert's Roost, Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious award recognizes alumni for outstanding
contributions to local, state or national communities generally, but not
exclusively, through opportunities in appointed or elected office or
public service nonprofit organizations; and

WHEREAS, After earning a bachelor's degree from Hartwick College,
Theresa E. Taylor earned master's degrees in both social work and
criminal justice through the University at Albany's (UAlbany) dual
degree program; and

WHEREAS, Theresa E. Taylor came to UAlbany after working several
years as Coordinator of Advocacy and Governance for the Girl Scouts of
Northeastern New York; she later took a position as Project Manager with
Happy Kids Foundation in Ghana, where she discovered her passion for
helping migrant, trafficked and stateless child populations; and

WHEREAS, In rural Ghana, Theresa E. Taylor managed an orphanage with
approximately 50 abused, abandoned and neglected children, as well as a
school which served 150 children; in this capacity, she created and
implemented income-generating programs, projects to improve health and
nutrition of the children and academic interventions to improve school
performance; and

WHEREAS, Following her experience in Ghana, and at the height of the
2014 migration crisis, Theresa E. Taylor served as Assistant Director
for Foster Care at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) in
Baltimore, where she oversaw more than 20 foster care agencies across
the United States; she returned to LIRS again in 2018 to help children
fleeing persecution and community violence in their home countries; and

WHEREAS, From 2016 to 2018, Theresa E. Taylor served as Social
Services Program Specialist for the United States Department of Health
and Human Services; she oversaw the administration of the Social
Services Block Grant (SSBG), and was the lead staff member for

supplemental disaster relief funding to five states in long-term
recovery from Hurricane Sandy; and

WHEREAS, Theresa E. Taylor has remained active in Ghana by serving
on the Community in Action for Self Help Projects Board which seeks to
eradicate health, education and income disparities in rural farming
communities; and

WHEREAS, In addition, she has implemented agro-livelihood programs
including animal husbandry and farming programs for homes of abused,
abandoned and neglected children; she also secured a startup grant for
the implementation of a pilot program to support farmers growing
orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to address vitamin A deficiencies among
pregnant and parenting women and young children; and

WHEREAS, Theresa E. Taylor currently serves as Deputy Director of
the Choice Program at the Shriver Center at the University of Maryland,
Baltimore County; and

WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to public
service, Theresa E. Taylor has dedicated her life to helping those in
need and sharing her passion and expertise with others; she recently
visited the UAlbany School of Social Welfare to share her experiences
regarding the recent refugee crisis and participated in a continuing
education event for alumni of the Master of Social Work program; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Theresa E. Taylor has
displayed throughout her life; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Theresa E. Taylor upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of the Excellence in Public Service Award by the University at
Albany Alumni Association; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Theresa E. Taylor.