Jeri Taylor

Screenwriter and producer Jeri Taylor became best known for her association with the Star Trek franchise. A graduate in English from Indiana University and holder of a Master's Degree from California State University, Taylor ran an acting workshop in L.A. and directed local stage productions before turning to screenwriting in 1979. Through an agent, she secured several assignments as a freelance writer, subsequently contributing a number of scripts to the popular forensic crime series Quincy, M.E. (1976), as well as becoming story editor and producer. She also worked as writer/producer on episodes of Magnum, P.I. (1980), In the Heat of the Night (1988) and Jake and the Fatman (1987).

In 1990, on the recommendation of fellow Quincy collaborator Lee Sheldon, Taylor was contracted by the executive producers of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). After completing her first assignment, a teleplay for the fourth season episode 'Suddenly Human', she became a permanent fixture on the show, first as staff writer and later as co-executive producer alongside Rick Berman and Michael Piller. Taylor also became involved in other aspects of production, including casting, editing and post-production. She was promoted to showrunner for the final season in 1993.

When TNG ended its run, Taylor joined Berman and Piller as co-creator of Star Trek: Voyager, taking over as showrunner until the end of season four. After handing over the reins to Brannon Braga in 1998, Taylor continued on as creative consultant for another three years.

Jeri Taylor authored several Star Trek novelizations, including 'Unification', 'Mosaic' (a back story for Voyager's Captain Janeway) and 'Pathways'.