Despite growing up around urban sprawl and agricultural fields in North Dakota, Taylor spent much of her childhood in the lake country of central Minnesota, where she developed a deep appreciation for nature that shaped her early experiences outdoors.

To pursue her career in conservation, Taylor attended Winona State University in southeastern Minnesota for her undergraduate studies, earning a B.S. in Ecology and Environmental Science and a minor in Sustainability. Her undergraduate research focused on the state-threatened species Great Indian Plantain (Arnoglossum reniforme), investigating habitat preferences and reproductive stages to better understand age structure and population trends.

Taylor also worked as a forestry technician for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where she managed floodplain forests, contributed to vegetation plans for island-building projects, and collaborated with agency partners on wildlife monitoring efforts.

Taylor is now pursuing her M.S. in the Environmental Science and Policy program at Northern Arizona University. Her graduate research focuses on how climate change and eutrophication affect freshwater macroinvertebrates and aquatic vegetation in northern Arizona ponds, to inform conservation strategies to protect vulnerable aquatic habitats.