BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT HOME

UC Irvine is has its time in the Black History Spotlight as we profile Tanya Taylor ('11) and Omar Amr ('96), two trailblazing alums who made an impact on and off the playing field.
 
If you look up Tanya Taylor's name in the UC Irvine women's soccer history books, you will find her name in a multitude of areas. The forward is first in UCI history in single season assists (12) and  single game assists (3) while tying for first in single season starts and games played (24). She also ranks fourth in career points (69), tied for fifth in game-winning goals (8), tied for fourth in career goals (24), third in career assists (21) and tied for fifth career starts (78).

She was the 2010 Big West Offensive Player of the Year, a three-time All-Big West selection (first team in 2010), first team All-West Region in 2010 and third team All-America in 2011. Taylor was also the captain of the powerhouse 2010 squad that won 19 games and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. She also won UCI's Lauds and Laurels Outstanding Student-Athlete Award in 2011.

After graduating in the spring of 2011, Taylor became the first Anteater to be drafted to play in the National Women's Soccer League, selected in the fourth round by the Boston Breakers. SHe also played for the Haiti national women's soccer team in 2011-12.

Following her proessional career she returned to her alma mater to attend law school, earning her J.D. from the UC Irvine School of Law in 2016. While there was she was staff editor of the UC Irvine Law Review. Taylor also served as a law clerk to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she conducted legal research, attended Judiciary Committee hearings, and prepared memoranda on judicial nominations, national security, and oversight.

Taylor is currently an associate with the law firm Ballard Spahr, first joining the firm's Los Angeles office before moving to the New York City office in January of 2020. She had previously passed the California bar and added the New York bar to her name.

Alumni Spotlight: Tanya Taylor - UC Irvine Media Relations
Tanya Taylor - Ballard Spahr Law Firm
Omar Amr career both in and out of the pool can be best described by one word...perseverance. The son of Egyptian immigrants, Amr faced racism in the classroom and in the pool but pushed forward to become a highly sought-after recruit.

After choosing to attend UC Irvine to play for the legendary Ted Newland, Amr became one of the best players in the country. He was a three time All-America and showed his academic prowess by being named first team GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America (1996) and twice being named the UC Irvine men's selection for Big West Scholar Athlete of the Year ('95, '96).

Amr's post-playing career focus was to become a doctor and he was admitted into Harvard Medical School. Only he didn't enroll right away, his playing career gave him a chance to break another barrier with the United States Men's Water Polo Olympic team. He faced a diffcult road both in an out of the pool and was ultimately one of the last cuts of the eventual 2000 Olympic roster.

After enrolling at Harvard in 2001, Amr didn't give up on his dream. He struck a deal with the dean of the medical school that would allow him attend classes at Harvard during the week and catch red-eye flights to train with the national team on the weekends. Despite facing pushback from professors about the split schedule, he earned a place in on the 2004 Olympic team, becoming the first African-American to compete for the United States in the sport AND graduated from medical school.

Amr is currently an emergency room physician, having served in that role in both Orange County and Stockton. He also was the GME US Director and Clinical ED US Director at St. Joseph's Medical Center Stockton in Stockton, Calif. Amr also has used his experience to help usher in real change, founding the the Alliance for Diversity and Equity in Water Polo.

Omar Amr's Extraordinary Career Featured by KCAL9 (VIDEO)
How an ER Doctor Combasted Racism In Pursuit of an Olympic Dream