Taylor Breshears joined the SSI team as the Associate Director of Student Success Initiatives in September 2022. Originally from Kansas City, MO, Taylor earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Master of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Missouri State University. After her graduate degree, she first worked in rural Missouri for a TRIO grant with first-generation, income-eligible high school students to guide them in postsecondary selection and enrollment. She then worked for Louisiana State University at a similar TRIO grant, working with first generation, income-eligible college students. She is grateful and ecstatic to continue her work with this population at Rice. In her spare time, she likes to try new restaurants and recipes in her kitchen, kayak with her two dogs, and research her next hiking destination.

Advising Philosophy

Taylor has a strengths-based, holistic approach to her advising. Not only is she willing to discuss study strategies or stress management with you, but she wants to know how you’re doing outside of classes and personally. Taylor strives to create a encouraging, non-judgmental, safe space for students to be their most authentic selves.