Education

Ph.D., Educational Psychology, Georgia State University

M.A., Educational Studies; Language, Literacy & Culture, University of Michigan

B.A., Child Development, Spelman College

Biography

Dr. Nicole Taylor is a proud alumna of Spelman College. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Georgia State University, where she developed a passion for research and teaching in higher education. Currently, as department chair and associate professor in the education department, she takes great pride in teaching and mentoring students and preparing them for careers in education. Dr. Taylor welcomes student visits daily and considers it an honor to develop relationships with them and guide them through their Spelman journey.

With expertise in education and psychology, Taylor's research and practice focus on the cognitive, emotional, and socio-cultural processes underlying young children's reading development and the reciprocal influences shaping reading experiences (e.g., home, school, and community). Taylor also focuses on the intersection of social-emotional perspectives, academic learning, and professional growth among aspiring African American educators.   Taylor is the author and co-author of several articles and a book, including Unsung Legacies of Educators and Events in African American Education (2019), which explores the contributions of twenty-two educators and events that have shaped the field of education, often receiving little to no public recognition. Her other works, Developing an Understanding of diverse families through family knowledge: Considerations for teacher candidates (2018), Promoting family literacy through connections, context, and curriculum (2017), and Exploring the literacy beliefs of refugee mothers: Implications for research and practice (2016), delve into the reciprocal influences shaping literacy outcomes in children. She has also had the opportunity to present her findings through trainings and at conferences within and outside the country.

Courses Taught

• EDU 304 Educational Psychology
• EDU 338 Junior Research Seminar
• EDU 392 Adult & Family Literacy
• EDU 438 Senior Thesis 1

Research Interests

• The psychology of reading; the multifaced processes (cognitive, emotional, and socio-cultural) that underlie reading acquisition.
• The reciprocal influences shaping individuals' reading experiences (ecological systems framework). Examining literacy development within interconnected contexts spanning home, school, community, and beyond.
• The intersection of social-emotional perspectives, academic learning, and professional growth amongst aspiring African American educators.

Publications

Taylor, N., Greenberg, D., & Terry, N.P. (accepted). Examining the relationships between parents’ literacy skills and their preschool children’s emergent literacy skills. Journal of Research and Practice for Adult Literacy, Secondary, and Basic, Education.

Taylor, N. (2015). Full circle moments: The navigation of an education journey. In M. Zhou (Ed), Supporting multiculturalism and gender diversity in university settings (pp. 24-37). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. 

Taylor, N. (2012) Bringing literacy home [Review of the book Bringing Literacy Home by D. Fisher & K. Dunsmore (Eds.)]. Journal of Research and Practice for Adult Literacy, Secondary, and Basic, Education, 6(1), 59-60.

Taylor, N., Greenberg, D., Laures-Gore, J., & Wise, J. (2011). Exploring the syntactic skills of struggling adult readers. Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 25(6), 1385-1402.