Dr. Melissa Taylor has worked in the College of Natural Sciences since April 2009 and currently serves as Assistant Dean for Strategy and Planning.  Her responsibilities include the coordination of strategic planning across the college, strategic management of the instructional budget, and facilitation of change & innovation initiatives under the leadership of the Dean. Melissa has extensive experience in higher education admissions, alumni relations, and student program management.  She is particularly passionate about equity and access, as well as campus climate issues as they pertain to diversity and inclusivity.

Melissa holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, where her research focused on socioeconomic upward mobility in postsecondary pathways that combine 2-year and 4-year institutions.