Molly L. Taylor

Ph. D. Student, Educational Psychology

Virginia Commonwealth University

Graduate Research Assistant

Partnership for People with Disabilities

About me

I am currently a third-year Ph.D. student at Virginia Commonwealth University studying Educational Psychology. Before beginning my doctoral program, I earned a B.S. in Psychology and Spanish from St. John Fisher College where I had the opportunity to be a student athlete and study abroad. These experiences led me to pursue a research program centered around student self-regulation and motivation in higher education.

My research interests fall at the intersection of several processes in education including:

1) Academic help-seeking

2) Sense of belonging

3) Self- and socially regulated learning

Research Experience

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Taylor, M. L. (2022). La Diversidad Lingüística Durante y Después del Franquismo en España. The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research, 23.

Manuscripts in Preparation

Berry, D. N., Taylor, M. L., Nicolia, K. D., Koenka, A. C., Barnes, N., de Oliveira, L., & Zumbrunn, S. (under review). Reading and writing feedback perceptions across K-20 contexts: A systematic review.

Zumbrunn, S. K., Nicolai, K. D., Taylor, M. L., Broda, M., Delay, K., Banjade, V., & Sekhon, N., Berry, D. N., & Wineland, T. (under review). Embracing the complexity of belonging: Possibilities and responsibilities.

Taylor, M. L., Prohn, S. M., & Chapman, R. (in preparation). The Power and Flexibility of Photovoice: Engaging Youth with IDD in Multiple Contexts.

Taylor, M. L., & Prohn, S. M. (in preparation). Testing a measurement model of privacy for people with intellectual disabilities.

Taylor, M. L., Joy, J., Wineland, T., & Zumbrunn, S. (in preparation). Investigating a bi-factor model of mattering and belonging in undergraduates.

Zumbrunn, S. K., Broda, M., Taylor, M. L., & Darby, J. (in preparation). RoboCogger™: Using a novel web application to assess and increase student writing metacognition, motivation, and performance.

other publications

Taylor, M. L. SRL from a socio-ecological perspective. (2023). SSRL 2023 Summer Newsletter. Studying and Self-Regulation Special Interest Group, American Educational Research Association.
Taylor, M. L., & Koenka, A. C. (2023). Alignment of course goals and type in higher education: Self-regulation as an antecedent. SSRL 2023 Spring Newsletter. Studying and Self-Regulation Special Interest Group, American Educational Research Association.
Zumbrunn, S., & Taylor, M. L. (2022). Giving and learning: Engaging in research-practice partnerships to advance self-regulated learning. SSRL 2022 Fall Newsletter: Researcher-Practitioner Connections. Studying and Self-Regulation Special Interest Group, American Educational Research Association.
Taylor, M. L., & Prohn, S. M. (2022). Project PEACE (Promoting Employment After high school through Community Expertise) community landscape analysis. Partnership for People with Disabilities.
Taylor, M. L., Prohn, S. M., Yarbrough, D., Abbott, V. J., Miller, D. A., Brodsky, P., & Sanghani, D. (2022). 2022 EHDI COVID follow up report. Virginia Early Hearing Detection and Intervention.

Research in progress

Taylor, M. L. (in progress- data collection). Considerations of culture, race, and ethinicity in academic help-seeking research.
Taylor, M. L., & Zumbrunn, S. (in progress- data collection). A mixed methods, socio-ecological approach to studying academic help-seeking in higher education.

Conference Presentations

2024

Taylor, M. L., Joy, J., Wineland, T., & Zumbrunn, S. (2024, August). Evidence supporting a bi-factor model of perceptions of belonging and mattering for undergraduates. Poster to be presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA.
Taylor, M. L., Prohn, S. M., & Chapman, R. (2024, April). The power and flexibility of photovoice: Engaging youth with IDD in multiple contexts. Paper to be presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA.
Zumbrunn, S., Broda, M., Nicolai, K. D., Taylor, M. L., Berry, D. N., Wineland, T., Delay, K., Banjade, V., & Sekhon, N. (2024, April). Blind spots in belonging intervention research: Lessons learned from a participatory mixed-method randomized control trial. Paper to be presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, P.A.
Taylor, M. L., Chapman, R., Sellers, T., & Dailey, A. (2024, March). Implementing photovoice in your classroom: Using photography to engage youth with IDD in transition instruction. Workshop presented at the Virginia Division on Career Development and Transition Annual Conference. Roanoke, VA.

2023

Cabrera, L., Taylor, M. L., & Bae, C. L. (2023, August). Understanding teachers as co-regulators within student regulation in science classrooms. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
Joy, J., Taylor, M. L., Wineland, T., & Zumbrunn, S. (2023, August). Belonging and Mattering in Undergraduates: Distinct or Overlapping Constructs? Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
Nicolai, K. D., Berry, D. N., Koenka, A. C., Taylor, M. L., Zumbrunn, S., Barnes, N., & Braxton, J. (2023, August). How do K-12 students perceive feedback? A systematic review. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
Taylor, M. L., Nicolai, K. D., Zumbrunn, S., Braxton, J., Berry, D. N., Koenka, A. C., & Barnes, N. (2023, August). A systematic review of academic feedback perceptions in undergraduate education. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
Chapman, R., Ceja, R., Dailey, A., Sellers, T., Taylor, M. L., & Prohn, S. M. (2023, June). Capturing transition: Collaborating with teachers to implement a photovoice transition project in intensive support classrooms. Paper presented at the 2023 Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium Summit. Richmond, VA.
Taylor, M. L., Chapman, R., & Prohn, S. M. (2023, June). Exploring community-based transition and employment for youth with IDD: A photovoice project. Poster presented at the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA.
Taylor, M. L. (2023, April). Taking a mixed methods, ecological approach to studying belonging and academic help-seeking for minoritized students. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Division C Shark Tank Competition. Chicago, IL.
Taylor, M. L., & Koenka, A. C. (2023, April). Alignment of course goals with course type in higher education through self-regulation. Poster presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.

Cabrera, L., Taylor, M. L., & Bae, C. L. (2023, April). Describing self-regulated learning and social regulation of learning in science classrooms. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.
Cabrera, L., Taylor, M. L., & Bae, C. L. (2023, April). Examining teachers’ influence on student self-regulated learning and social regulation of learning in science classrooms. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.
Joy, J., Taylor, M. L., Chang, C. N., & Zumbrunn, S. (2023, March). Testing the psychometric properties of belonging and mattering measures in undergraduates: Results from CFA and measurement invariance analysis. Poster presented at the VCU School of Education Research Colloquium. Richmond, VA. (Won People’s Choice Award for Best Poster)
Taylor, M. L., Prohn, S. M., & Chapman, R. (2023, March). Transition through a new lens: Using photovoice to highlight youths’ voices and facilitate employment aspirations. Poster presented at the Virginia Division on Career Development and Transition Conference. Roanoke, VA.

2022

Prohn, S. M., & Taylor, M. L. (2022, November). Transition landscape analysis: Investing Community in Plans to Improve Employment Outcomes. Workshop presented at the Division on Career Development and Transition Conference. Little Rock, AR.
Prohn, S. M., & Taylor, M. L. (2022, November). Community landscape analysis for employment and other outcomes: An ACL community collaboration for employment program panel. Panel presented at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities Conference. Washington, DC.
Taylor, M. L. (2022, August). Out of the mouths of students: How learning environments shape goal setting in higher education. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association. Minneapolis, MN.
Nicolai, K. D., Garries, R., *Berry, D. N., *Braxton, D., *Meekins, D., *Taylor, M. L., *Wallace, M. K., *Wineland, T., & Koenka, A. C. (2022, August). Evidence-based practices for teaching human development guided by theory and personal experience. Symposium presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association. Minneapolis, MN. * signifies equal contribution
Taylor, M. L., Berry, D. N., *Banjade, V., *Delay, K., Joy, J., *Nikolai, K., *Ross, E., *Sekhon, N., *Wineland, T., & Zumbrunn, S. K. (2022, April). Pathways to Belonging and Engagement: Testing a Tailored Social Belonging Intervention for University Students. Poster presented at the VCU 25th Annual Graduate Research Symposium. Richmond, VA.
Taylor, M. L., Berry, D. N., *Banjade, V., *Delay, K., Joy, J., *Nikolai, K., *Ross, E., *Sekhon, N., *Wineland, T., & Zumbrunn, S. K. (2022, March). Pathways to Belonging and Engagement: Testing a Tailored Social Belonging Intervention for University Students. Poster presented at the VCU School of Education Research Colloquium. Richmond, VA. * signifies equal contribution (Won People’s Choice Award for Best Poster)

2021

Taylor, M. L. (2021, April). Does goal setting serve as cognitive resource management? College student’s adoption of goal orientation as a self-regulatory strategy. Paper presented at Student Research and Creative Work Symposium. St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY.
Taylor, M. L. (2021, April). Does goal setting serve as cognitive resource management? College student’s adoption of goal orientation as a self-regulatory strategy. Paper presented at First Friday Lecture Series. St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY.

Research Funding

Project PEACE (Promoting Employment After high school through Community Expertise (2021-2026). Administration for Community Living. ($1,250,000, funded).

Role: Graduate Research Associate

Understanding belonging in context: A longitudinal mixed methods study. (2022). Virginia Commonwealth University. Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Fund. ($10,000, funded).

Role: Co-investigator

Promoting Self-Determination in Psychotherapy. (2024-2026). National Research Consortium on Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. ($70,000, funded).

Role: Project Coordinator

The role of goal setting as a self-regulatory strategy and its implications for student achievement. (2020). St. John Fisher College. Summer Fellows Research Program. ($2,000, funded).

Role: Lead Investigator

Professional experience

2021-Present

Graduate Assistant for Dr. Seb Prohn

Partnership for people with disabilities

Virginia Commonwealth University

2022-Present

Lab Manager and Undergraduate Research Supervisor

Motivation in Context Research Lab

Virginia Commonwealth University

2023-Present