She then attended the University of Oklahoma (OU), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American history and a teaching certificate.

[citation needed] From 1979-84, Taylor was an active volunteer on campaigns of pro-education candidates for state and local offices and participated in chances to lobby Oklahoma legislators at the capitol on behalf of education.

After discussing a possible run with the Norman High School principal, she was given a leave of absence to campaign; she also had to turn down her Fulbright opportunity.

Other such legislation introduced reforms and/or funding that increased monies for all levels of public education, training and standards for Boards of Regents, and college internship programs.

Among other reforms, the bill lowered class size, brought the greatest leap in teachers’ salaries in state history, and strengthened curriculum by adding environmental and geography education programs.

Taylor also successfully advocated for a statewide higher education bond issue that contained funding for a new building for the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.

[2] As part of her university service, Taylor has administered the President's Leadership Class and the Washington Center Internship Program, which places students in internships in Washington, D.C. She also coordinated the Brad Henry Scholarship program at RSU, which selects RSU students to study in Swansea, Wales.

Taylor has also served on or chaired several RSU committees as well as co-coached the university’s Mind Games Academic Team.