Title Discussion with Dijit Taylor: The Lone Woman in the Sphere
F*ckin' A, let's chat about the kickass story of Dijit Taylor, AMC's first female director of research. This gal has some fire in her veins, y'all!
When her team shifted parts of the Crawford Path to protect Robbins' cinquefoil, a plant only found above treeline in the White Mountains, it was on the brink of extinction. Today, it's not even close. Talk about a conservationist's dream come true!
She landed a gig at AMC in the late 70s, a time when ladies were few and far between in positions of leadership. Taylor recalled, "It wasn't unusual for me to sit in on a meeting where I was the only female in the room... I took on the persona of a person who questioned a lot of traditions just because I felt like I needed to have something that I could count on myself to offer."
Sadly, sexism was a constant struggle for Taylor at AMC. She was even denied the chance to work as a Hut Croo in the White Mountain backcountry, and after having her second daughter, AMC called her back to full-time work, leaving her no choice but to step down from her director role.
After leaving AMC, Taylor went on to have a successful career with land conservation organizations across New Hampshire. Fast forward to 2021, and she retired as executive director of the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program.
One of her daughters even followed in her footsteps, taking on the role of huts manager at AMC. Taylor shared, "I love it! So many parents have children doing things that they can't understand. My husband's parents never really understood what he did as a city planner. And I understand the jobs that both of my daughters have because I've either done them or been close to doing them. It helps to bridge the generation gap to have that professional context in common."
We sat down with Dijit to reminisce about her time at AMC, discussing the highs and lows, being a working mother, and seeing her daughters on Croo a generation after she was excluded.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Let's get straight to the deets, shall we?
MM: So tell us about how you first started working for AMC and what your background in science was before that.
DT: I have an undergraduate degree in geology from Middlebury and an almost completed master's degree in resource conservation from Cornell. We moved to Berlin, NH in 1977, and I snagged a short-term job writing science curriculum for the local school system. AMC had some cashflow thanks to a federal grant, and I interviewed for a position in both the education and research departments. I figured, 'Why not try research?' So, I took the research gig and had a blast.
MM: What were your top achievements while working in the research department?
DT: Easy peasy - we relocated the Crawford Path in Monroe Flats to save the Potentilla robbinsiana. It was on the endangered species list at the time. Today, it's not. That's a big win for conservationists!
MM: What was it like being a woman in leadership at AMC at that point? How did that affect getting big projects like that done?
DT: The research program was up and running when I joined, and job interviews at AMC were super casual at the time. I stepped into the director role when the previous director left, and there was no formal hiring process. There weren't many women in leadership roles, but it didn't feel like a big deal to me - I was just doing my job.
I recall sitting in meetings where I was the only woman, which could feel a little alienating. But I was fortunate to have two other young women on my team most of the time, so we had each other for company.
MM: You mentioned putting on a persona as the only woman in the room, can you talk more about that?
DT: I'm usually an introverted person, but I knew I needed to contribute something in those meetings. So I took on the role of the person who always raised the 'Why are we doing that' questions and challenged the status quo.
MM: Since your time in the research department, what changes have you seen regarding women's representation at AMC?
DT: It's cool to see so many more women participating in AMC's activities over the years, from guest services to hut management. Many women excel at guest services, making the hut system better for everyone.
MM: You mentioned that after AMC, you switched to land conservation. Can you go more into that?
DT: I left AMC when they asked me to return to full-time work after having my second child. I worked for the New Hampshire Rivers Council and the Merrimack River Watershed Council, doing river advocacy work and research on the impact of conservation on town budgets. Later, I worked for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. Eventually, I retired from that last role.
MM: Have you seen any societal changes that have made it easier for mothers in your position today, versus when you were a younger mother?
DT: Yeah, for sure! Daycare centers are now available even in rural areas, which we didn't have at the time. Basically, your only option was to find somebody staying home who could take care of your child. Luckily, I found an old high school classmate to watch mine, and it worked out for a while.
MM: Any notable stories where being a woman gave you a different perspective on moving a situation forward at work?
DT: I don't have a great anecdote from those AMC days, as I was so focused on being taken seriously as a professional. However, being a woman comes with a unique set of skills that can be valuable in the workplace, such as communication and empathy.
MM: What would you tell women in conservation today?
DT: Go for it, sis! The legal landscape and societal attitudes have changed, making it easier than ever to break into this field. It might not be financially rewarding, but the people you meet and the places you visit make it all worth it. Just don't forget to support each other along the way!
- During her time at AMC, Dijit Taylor earned a master's degree in resource conservation from Cornell and took on the role of AMC's first female director of research, demonstrating her commitment to both education and self-development and career development.
- Taylor's groundbreaking work in conservation included moving the Crawford Path to protect the Potentilla robbinsiana, a plant only found in the White Mountains, contributing significantly to family health, women's health, and health-and-wellness efforts.
- In addition to her achievements in conservation, Taylor’s professional journey also played a critical role in her parenting, enabling her to relate to and understand her daughters' careers in parenting and family-health as they followed in her footsteps.
- Beyond her accomplishments at AMC, Taylor continued her career in land conservation organizations across New Hampshire, emphasizing the importance of skills-training and land conservation for the benefit of future generations.
