Taylor Locks
Ph.D. Student, Higher Education Administration
Taylor Locks is a part-time Ph.D. student in the Higher Education Administration program. Taylor works full-time as an Area Director in Residence Life at William & Mary. She received her B.A. in Classics (Latin) at the University of Virginia and her M.S. in Higher Education at Florida State University.
In prior research, Taylor has studied barriers to success in higher education for students with autism. Her thesis explored the impact of performance-based funding on practitioner experience at a historically Black college. Current research interests include residential student staff attitudes and experiences, residential student experience, and public policy. Taylor has been recognized for her research and professional practice by numerous organizations. Selected awards include Graduate Student of the Year (NASPA, Florida); Outstanding Graduate Student (NASPA, Region III), and Advisor of the Year (Pi Lambda Phi).
Taylor also shared her part-time student experience, “I have a strong passion for life-long learning and believe that scholarship forms the foundation of successful practice. The School of Education’s commitment to intellectual exploration, innovative research, and professional development attracted me to the program. The faculty’s enthusiasm and welcoming attitude made it an easy decision to join the Tribe! While I was initially hesitant to balance coursework with full-time employment, I have been blown away by the encouragement I have received. This support has confirmed William & Mary is an amazing campus community.”