Taylor Lightner

Taylor Lightner, Ph.D., Research Associate and Program Coordinator, Quality Education for Minorities Network (QEM), is a dedicated educational researcher and advocate committed to empowering historically marginalized groups in STEM education and careers through innovative and equitable educational practices. Her background in Engineering Education and Industrial Systems Engineering enables her to deeply understand how system dynamics influence broadening participation in STEM preparation, training, and careers. Therefore, she has coordinated various research efforts associated with teaching courses, developing workshops, administering surveys, facilitating focus groups, conducting interviews, and evaluating programs at the interface with over 200+ minority undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and corporate representatives that have produced meaningful outcomes in the STEM field. Passionate about translating research into actionable change, her efforts continue challenging the status quo, championing the rights of historically marginalized groups, and advocating for a more equitable and just STEM educational landscape.