Allan Taylor serves as executive director of university communication for Samford University. He provides strategic oversight for media relations, university publications, internal campus communications and crisis communications, while collaborating with the marketing/advancement division. A versatile writer, editor and leader of communications teams, he possesses a track record of persuasive storytelling, project management and audience growth.

Before joining Samford in June 2024, Taylor enjoyed an extensive career in journalism by covering news, sports, business and government — on some occasions, with all four overlapping. He garnered awards from the Associated Press, along with state press associations for column writing, news reporting and section design in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee. Most recently he covered the University of Florida and the Southeastern Conference for The Athletic and New York Times.

He previously enjoyed an eight-year run at WVMetroNews, covering West Virginia University and Big 12 athletics, while serving as editor for the state’s most popular news website. That tenure included a stint as editor in chief of The Dominion Post daily newspaper in Morgantown, W.Va.

He also worked as sports editor for The Huntsville Times and al.com, and served as SEC columnist and assistant sports editor for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Other positions included the Birmingham Post-Herald and the Waxahachie Daily Light.

Born in Montgomery, Taylor was blessed to grow up in Atmore as the son of career educators. (His father was a coach-turned-principal and his mother served more than three decades as an elementary teacher.)

Taylor’s wife Daphnelys enjoys singing in various ensembles at church. They have two children, Primrose and Amos, who enjoy singing along.

Degrees and Certifications

• BA in Communications (concentration in Journalism), University of Alabama