Jason Taylor

Dr. Jason Taylor is a distinguished scholar and an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at the University of Utah. He also serves as a Faculty Affiliate at the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research. Dr. Taylor earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he developed a keen interest in the dynamics of educational inequality and higher education policy. His research primarily focuses on community colleges and the broader landscape of higher education policy. Dr. Taylor is particularly interested in how these policies affect educational and social inequality. His work encompasses a wide range of topics, including college readiness, developmental education, college affordability, and the experiences of LGBTQ+ students within the higher education system. Dr. Taylor has made significant contributions to the field through his numerous research reports and publications in esteemed academic journals. His scholarly excellence has been recognized with awards such as the Barbara K. Townsend Emerging Scholars award, highlighting his impact on the field of higher education research. A first-generation college graduate himself, Dr. Taylor is deeply committed to understanding and addressing the challenges faced by underserved students in accessing and succeeding in higher education. His research is informed by his personal experiences and his professional background in academic advising and various institutional roles, which provide him with a unique perspective on the issues he studies. Through his work, Dr. Taylor aims to shed light on the ways public policies can be leveraged to improve educational outcomes for marginalized communities. His dedication to this cause is evident in his ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between research and practice, ensuring that his findings contribute to meaningful changes in higher education policy and practice.