West Virginia University graduate student Taylor Richmond made history in January. The 24-year-old Beckley native became the youngest Shriner currently serving on the Board of Governors of any of the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children® healthcare facilities.
In January, Richmond took his seat on the Board of Governors of Shriners Hospitals for Children – Erie Ambulatory Surgery Center and Outpatient Specialty Care Center. He is an associate board member representing the Osiris Shriners of Wheeling. The Board of Governors operates like a corporate board of directors. Each of the 14 Shrine centers affiliated with the Erie facility are entitled to full board and associate board members.
Richmond was named to the board by the Divan (elected officers) of the Osiris Shriners. As their associate board member, Richmond attends monthly board meetings, serves on board committees, participates in all debates and discussions on issues that come before the board but does not have a formal vote. Only full board members cast formal votes.
Richmond earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from WVU in 2011 and will complete his graduate studies at WVU in May. He is currently a graduate assistant in the Office of Admissions at WVU and has served the University in a variety of other roles, including representative on the Strategic Planning Committee.
With the Osiris Shriners, Richmond has served as chairman of their Lucky Number Calendar fundraiser and as co-chairman of the Shriners Hospitals Benefit Dance.
“It is always great to see young Shriners involved in our hospitals, and to have one on our board is especially beneficial,” said Jeffrey Stephenson, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Shriners Hospitals Erie facility. “They can bring fresh ideas and a fresh perspective to our governance.”
