Glen L. Taggart was born January 16, 1914 in Lewiston, Utah. He earned a Master of Science degree in sociology from Utah State University (1940) and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin (1946). He served as a consultant in countries in Latin America, Iraq, and the Philippines through the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations, 1944-1953. In 1953 he was appointed professor of Sociology at Michigan State University. Taggart became Dean of International Programs at MSU in 1956. As dean, her directed on-campus programs of international studies, was involved in overseas projects, and was a leader in the planning of the University of Nigeria. From 1964 to 1966, Taggart served as president of the University of Nigeria.

In 1968, he was appointed president of Utah State University, a post he held for eleven years. Following his retirement from USU, Taggart worked at the U.S. Department of State in international development. From 1982 to 1992, he served as Senior Program Consultant at the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Also during this period, he was a member of the Board of Regents of Higher Education in Utah.

Taggart died August 10, 1997 in Logan, Utah.