Guiding Scientific Minds
Taylor Loos-Little ’16 was a 2023 honorable recipient of the Emerging Alumni Award. This award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to their professions and their world.
Taylor grew up in Dover, Ohio. His connections to his hometown inspired him to make the decision to go to Muskingum University.
"So, I had a lot of good friends that went to Muskingum, that I graduated with, or that were a few years ahead of me. But it was close to home, and I was interested in that. It was obviously a small liberal arts school; I didn’t want to go to a huge school,” Taylor said. “Muskingum also had a really good reputation for educators, and at first, I wanted to pursue education.”
While at Muskingum, Taylor was involved in a variety of organizations and extracurriculars. Some included Student Senate, College Democrats as president, and worked in the history department as a student assistant. He also pledged to the Kappa Sigma fraternity, was a residence assistant during his junior and senior years, and tutored peers on multiple subjects in the student success center.
“I did a lot. I was very fortunate,” said Taylor.
He graduated magna cum laude in 2016 with his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science with a minor in Sociology. After graduation, he decided to take a semester off. “That summer, I did political campaign work. I worked for the Democratic Party on the Clinton campaign through election day.”
The next spring, Taylor decided to go to Shippensburg University, where he graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Applied History. While in graduate school, he had an opportunity for an impactful internship.
“When I was in grad school, I had the opportunity to do an internship with the National Park Service. So, I worked for two years at the C&O Canal National Historical Park as a seasonal park ranger interpreter,” Taylor said. “That was a really big foot into the door to get to work in these kinds of cool institutions.”
As Taylor was completing his education and beginning his career, he realized he was more interested in informal education rather than formal. “This intersection of fun and education and fun and learning have always been a part of what I have been interested in.”
His interest in informal, fun education led him to his current job at COSI: Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio. Taylor is the manager of onsite education experiences, so he has multiple responsibilities within his position.
“Every day is a little bit different. I do half of my work as administrative and operational work, and the other half is out on the museum floor in front of the public engaging and teaching guests,” he said.
At COSI, Taylor leads a team of part-time educators. He oversees the hiring and training process so they can effectively perform in front of the public. He also works on offsite programs and the “COSI after dark” program that is designed for adults. “We all wear a lot of hats.”
Taylor is passionate about his role at COSI and his ability to educate the public through scientific understanding. “Good science communication and good informal science education, I think, is critical to Columbus, Ohio, the United States, and the whole world.
If I can take the skills I’ve learned at Muskingum, Shippensburg, the park service, and other museums I have been involved with to bear on the problem of helping folks better understand science, that is a super important thing.
As Taylor has encountered many experiences while earning his degrees and beginning his career, he has advice for current and future students at Muskingum University.
“Something that is really, really important in the economy that we find ourselves in today is the ability to think creatively in the way you are able to market the skills you have and think about how different industries and sectors may view your talents."