Staff Spotlight: Charlie Taylor

A Seattle native, Charlie attended Franklin High School and Bellevue College before moving to Baltimore, Maryland, where she studied communications and public relations at Morgan State University. 

After graduating from Morgan State, she returned to Washington and began working in public television as a production assistant, stock footage coordinator, and location scout for various documentaries and productions featuring scientist Bill Nye.

In 2011, she started at the University of Washington as a payroll specialist in the Division of Medical Oncology, working her way up to her current position as manager of human resources.

"I’ve thoroughly enjoyed partnering with Charlie in her HR role over the past several years," said Bryn Vaswig, director of HR for the Department of Medicine. "Charlie is skilled at recruiting, onboarding, and managing employee relations for a large, complex division. She has shown to be an effective HR Manager and is a true asset to the Department of Medicine."

As the HR manager, Charlie advises management, senior leadership, and employees on a variety of HR matters including employee discipline and corrective action, classification/compensation, employee development, recruitment issues involving diversity awareness and retention, regulatory compliance, and adherence with HR polices and processes.

"Charlie is the heart of the division," said Sonja Stella, division administrator. "We have over 185 staff and Charlie is the glue that keeps everyone together. She brings her best self to every situation - regardless of how stressful, contentious or seemingly 'unimportant' it may appear to others - and makes everyone feel welcome, valued and worthy.

She is always ready to lend a helping hand, no matter how big or small the task; she is the very definition of a team player. We are so grateful she is part of our division."

Charlie is devoted to improving employees’ lives and working collaboratively with managers/leaders to produce effective change.

"It has been a wonderful experience working in the Division of Medical Oncology," she says. "They are some of the most dedicated and hard-working people in the School of Medicine."

Outside of work, Charlie tutors high school students and also coaches the girls freshman/JV basketball teams at Seattle Prep (she played basketball at both Franklin High School and Bellevue College.) 

"I enjoy giving back," she says.