WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2011 -- WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Communication Association (NCA), the largest national organization dedicated to communication, recently bestowed its prestigious Samuel L. Becker Distinguished Service Award on Dr. Orlando Taylor, interim vice president of academic affairs at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and president of its Washington, D.C. Campus. One of the Association's highest honors, the award recognizes an NCA member who has given outstanding cumulative service in research, teaching and/or service to both NCA and the profession. Presented at the NCA's 97th Annual Convention in late November, this year's award honors Dr. Taylor's work in communication education and research, primarily in the areas of communication science and intercultural communication, as well as his years of service to the discipline, which included a term as the NCA's national president.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111213/DC22022)(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100518/DC07134LOGO)

"Dr. Taylor has been involved with NCA for over 40 years and has been instrumental in driving some of the most important initiatives both within and outside NCA to address communication issues and challenges through scholarship, research, and advocacy," said Dr. Richard West, professor and chair of the Department of Communication Studies at Emerson College and president of NCA. "His past and present contributions to NCA, his relentless promotion of communication as a social science, and his ongoing commitment to social justice and diversity make him most deserving of this recognition."

Dr. Taylor's illustrious career includes more than three decades as a faculty member, vice provost, dean, department chair and professor at Howard University. He has also served on numerous national boards for a variety of prominent higher education organizations, including serving a term as president of the Consortium of Social Science Associations, the nation's leading advocacy group promoting attention to and federal funding for the social and behavioral sciences. Just prior to taking on one of the key leadership roles at The Chicago School, Dr. Taylor served as the dean of the graduate school and vice provost for research at Howard University. In that position, he helped advance Howard University as a national leader in the communication field, initiating the launch of the Howard Journal of Communications, one of the nation's leading journals focused on intercultural communication. Howard University is a major producer of Ph.D. recipients in communication, graduating more African American Ph.D.s in communication than any other university in the country.

As president of NCA, Dr. Taylor worked to enhance the NCA's national positioning by spearheading its move to a more visible location in Washington, D.C.  An active member of the Black Caucus of NCA for many years and the first and only African American to be elected president of NCA, Dr. Taylor helped raise awareness of and sensitivity to social justice and diversity issues both within the organization and the profession. He remains focused on these issues at The Chicago School, where in addition to his primary positions he chairs the institution's Internationalization Task Force.

"I am deeply honored to receive this award from an association that has contributed so much and continues to play such a critical role in supporting research and promoting the importance and application of culturally competent communication to every sector of public and private life," said Dr. Taylor. "I continue to be inspired by the scholars, educators, practitioners and students who are committed to fostering communication that advances freedom, equity, peace and understanding in an increasingly complex and interconnected world."

About The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Founded in 1979, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) is one of the nation's leading nonprofit graduate schools dedicated exclusively to the applications of psychology and related behavioral sciences. The school is an active member of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology, which has recognized TCSPP for its distinguished service and outstanding contributions to cultural diversity and advocacy. The school's community service initiatives have resulted in four consecutive years of recognition on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, including the additional "With Distinction" honor in 2010 and 2011.  The Chicago Campus of TCSPP was one of only 115 schools in the nation to receive the 2010 Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, for its significant commitment to and demonstration of community engagement. Campuses are located in Chicago; in Los Angeles, Westwood, and Irvine, California; and the newest campus in Washington, D.C. Doctoral psychology programs and masters psychology programs are offered on-ground and in an online-blended format.

For more information about The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/gradpsychology. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thechicagoschool.

Contact:Lynne Baker312.379.1635lbaker@thechicagoschool.edu

SOURCE The Chicago School of Professional Psychology