25 to watch in 2025: Inclusion advocate will publish thesis on Black love
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25 to watch in 2025
The Lexington Herald-Leader is tracking 25 individuals we expect will be making news in 2025.
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Editor’s note: The Herald-Leader is profile 25 individuals we expect to make news in 2025.
Name: Nigel Marcellus Taylor, a current communications and media studies PhD. candidate at the University of Kentucky studying Black love.
Background: As an undergraduate student at UK in 2013, Taylor founded Underground Perspective, a student organization dedicated to promoting diversity and creating community for underrepresented groups on campus. Over a decade later, Underground Perspective is still running hard and strong. As graduation approaches in May 2025, Taylor is looking to continue advocating for community building as he moves onto a larger stage.
He has already created spaces for belonging in many pockets of his life, serving as an ambassador for UK’s cultural center, writing a children’s book highlighting overlooked career opportunities for Black children, founding Underground Perspective, giving a mini-TedTalk, hosting a campus-wide Thanksgiving meal for students that stick around during the holidays and, most recently, studying love.
Why they’re someone to watch in 2025: In 2025, Taylor will publish his thesis that examines how media stereotypes of Black relationships influence the perceptions and the experiences of Black people. Without the additional responsibility of academic deadlines, Taylor said he will only get closer to his goal of becoming a talk show host and media personality.
Even as a student juggling academic priorities with personal ambition, Taylor has already made headway in his field.
He has attended the Forbes 30 under 30 conference for the past two years, where he learned the ins-and-outs of creating impactful relationships. He said this is the first time in his life that his toolbox will be full.
“I’ve always been the dreamer of my friend group. I’m always the person who talks about what I’m gonna do one day – the impact that I’m gonna have,” he said. “This is probably the first chance in my life where I have direction, I have purpose, I have education. I have all the things that I need to go and pursue my dreams and aspirations.”
What they expect out of the new year: “I’ve done a lot, from the impact on campus student organizations, to traveling to these different conferences, to interviewing (Emmy-winning filmmaker) Ava DuVernay and all these other people,” he said.
“But I’ve always done this stuff under like, ‘Man, I got homework.’ And now, I don’t have homework. I want to have a real impact in the world. I want to be able to be a voice for others, not only in entertainment, but being able to build community and bring people together.”
What others will be watching for: “Nigel has a drive and worth ethic that is unmatched. This year, I expect to see him finish his PhD and then I expect to see him land a position hosting some type of entertainment show whether it be on radio or TV,” said Anthony Limperos, chair of UK’s department of communications. “I’ve known Nigel since he was a junior at UK and he has consistently impressed me in ways I could never imagine. I look forward to calling him ‘Dr. Taylor’ soon and seeing what he does next.”
