A message from President Drake about Systemwide Title IX Director Suzanne Taylor
May 10, 2022 •
President Michael V. Drake sent the following message to all UCOP staff on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
Dear UCOP Colleagues:
I am writing to share the bittersweet news that Suzanne Taylor, Systemwide Title IX director, has decided to leave the university to dedicate more time to family and personal endeavors. Her last day is June 30.
Systemwide Title IX Director Suzanne Taylor
The Systemwide Title IX Office, formed in 2017, was one of the first systemwide Title IX offices in the country, and evidences the importance of combatting sexual harassment to the UC system. Suzanne has led the office for four of its five years. She has worked to strengthen prevention, detection, and response efforts across the system, support the crucial work of our campus Title IX offices, and help the University navigate challenging, unpredictable times. Suzanne has led key initiatives that include responding to the prior federal Administration’s controversial Title IX regulations, implementing extensive recommendations from the California State Auditor, and developing strategies, tools, and resources to address misconduct arising in the context of patient care.
Before joining UCOP, Suzanne served as a civil rights attorney with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for more than a decade. There, she investigated and resolved complex civil rights allegations against education institutions and was the lead attorney on several significant and novel cases, including the first Title IX case to remedy discrimination based on transgender status. Suzanne first joined UCOP in November 2016 as a Title IX principal investigator, handling sensitive SVSH complaints across the system and providing support on legal and policy issues. She was appointed Systemwide Title IX Director following a months-long nationwide search. Her experience, dedication, and passion stand out, and are evident in her years of work.
Marisa McAuliffe will be leading the search committee to find Suzanne’s replacement.
Please join me in congratulating Suzanne, and thanking her for her professionalism, her dedicated hard work at UCOP, and her service to the entire University community. We wish her the very best in her next chapter.
Sincerely,
Michael V. Drake, M.D.
UC President
