Matthew Taylor is Associate Provost at Rice University. From 2010 to 2016, he held the dual role of Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Associate Dean of Undergraduates, as well as an appointment as adjunct associate professor of Humanities.
Dr. Taylor’s multiple appointments reflect his responsibility for leading the development and implementation of academic initiatives that span the undergraduate program. He established and served as the founding director of several programs and offices, including the Program in Writing and Communication, the Rice Emerging Scholars Program (RESP), the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI), and the Health, Humanism, and Society Scholars Program, a partnership with Baylor College of Medicine.
Taylor continues to oversee OURI and RESP, guide Rice's comprehensive strategy for supporting first-generation and low-income students, lead data gathering and analysis of student retention and campus climate, cultivate and develop academic partnerships between Rice and Houston area community colleges, and advise student government leaders. He has chaired a variety of prominent committees and projects, including the Rice Common Reading Program (2006-2012), the Alcohol Policy Advisory Committee, the University Working Group on Title IX and Sexual Violence Prevention, and the President’s Committee on Investor Responsibility, among many others.
As Associate Dean, Dr. Taylor provided oversight to Student Health Services and the Center for Civic Leadership, which houses undergraduate community service, leadership development, fellowships, the Certificate in Civic Leadership, and civic research and design programs. A noted expert on residential college systems, Taylor played a leading role in design, construction, and opening of McMurtry College and Duncan College at Rice, and he has advised universities across the nation on best practices for creating residential colleges. Taylor continues to represent the Provost’s Office on many major construction initiatives.
Dr. Taylor is an expert in U.S. diplomatic history, especially the history of the Cold War and Vietnam War, and was a faculty member in the Department of History from 1992 to 1997. He has won numerous awards for teaching and service at Rice, including the Elizabeth Gillis Award for Exemplary Service, Student Association Mentor Award, Class of 1996 Award for distinguished faculty service, and Brown College Award for Outstanding Teaching.
From 1997 to 2004, Taylor served as Dean of Campus Life and professor of history at Pomona College. He returned to Rice in 2005.