Matthew Taylor is Senior Associate Provost for Strategic and Educational Initiatives (OSEI) at Rice University. From 2010 to 2016, Taylor held the dual role of Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Associate Dean of Undergraduates. Taylor’s multiple appointments reflect his responsibility for leading the development, implementation, and coordination of academic initiatives that span the undergraduate program.
In his current role, Taylor delivers strategic integration and coordination across schools, academic support offices, and central administration to advance the university’s strategic priorities, with a particular focus on undergraduate education. Current efforts of OSEI include leading the implementation of the recommendations of the Provost’s Task Force for Student Success; facilitating articulation of learning outcomes for undergraduates; developing and managing equity and access-oriented partnerships with community colleges; and, developing and coordinating efforts to scale undergraduate research opportunities and expanding equitable access to and participation in research, civic engagement, and global engagement.
Taylor 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), the Take Flight STEM Pathway program, and the Health, Humanism, and Society Scholars Program, a partnership with Baylor College of Medicine. He has chaired a variety of prominent committees and projects, including the Rice Common Reading Program, the Alcohol Policy Advisory Committee, the University Working Group on Title IX and Sexual Violence Prevention and many others. Programs led by Taylor have received funding from the National Science Foundation, Hearst Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, Chao Foundation, and Alkek Foundation, among others.
A noted expert on residential college systems, Taylor played a leading role in the 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 select capital projects and planning initiatives.
An expert in U.S. diplomatic history, especially the history of the Cold War and Vietnam War, Dr. Taylor began his career at Rice in 1992 as a faculty member in the Department of History. 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 teaching and 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.