As chair of the department of marketing and global supply chain management at Wayne State, many people cross Dr. John Taylor's path. Dr. Taylor works regularly with students, fellow researchers, companies of all sizes and more - and he's helping make a positive difference with all of them.

Helping students develop into well-rounded professionals is a top priority for Dr. Taylor, and his commitment to students is evident.

"Students are the lifeblood of the program and their success not only bodes well for them personally and professionally, but also for the program, the business school and the university," Dr. Taylor said. "I want to do all I can to help them succeed."

For instance, he accompanied supply chain students on an inaugural educational trip to Quebec during spring break last year. While it's not the most popular spring break destination, Dr. Taylor and the eight participating students loved Quebec because it gave them firsthand exposure to supply chain management's front lines, especially while they visited the Port of Montreal. During this year's second annual trip, 16 students went on the trip, a testimonial to the value.

He also helped coordinate the first annual General Motors / Wayne State University Supply Chain Case Competition. The competition brought 16 universities from around the country to downtown Detroit to learn more about auto industry supply chain challenges and opportunities. The event gave students a unique forum to showcase their skills in front of prospective employers and learn more about logistics and supply chain management from key players in the industry. The second annual competition will be held this fall.

Dr. Taylor supports student organizations as well. Currently, he is the faculty adviser for the Global Supply Chain Management Student Association. The group helps foster academic progress, as well as provide the framework for a strong mentoring and networking presence.

In addition to his work with students, Dr. Taylor's research features regularly in prestigious academic journals. He's published scholarly articles on U.S.-Canada-Mexico border crossing issues, trucking economic regulation, ocean shipping in the Great Lakes, highway funding and more. As logistics continues to play an increasingly larger role in modern business, Dr. Taylor's research becomes more relevant and important.

Dr. Taylor's many accomplishments and profoundly positive effect on students prove he is a professor who is not only doing, but making a big impact.