About Me
Hello! I'm a graduate of Rice University, holding a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in Environmental Studies. Throughout my academic journey, I've been deeply inspired by the transformative potential of combining science, art, and social and environmental justice.
My passion for advancing equity in racial, gender, and environmental realms has driven my diverse engagement with these topics. This engagement spans from my involvement in intersectional advocacy with Rice Speech and Debate to working as an Environmental Justice Coordinator and Social Media manager. I've found unique ways to express my dedication to creating a more compassionate and equitable world in both academic and professional realms.
Beyond my academic pursuits, I've embraced mindfulness practices as a Reiki practitioner, and I value the profound impact of holistic healing on mental health and well-being. I aim to integrate this knowledge with my understanding of structural inequity to one day open a therapy practice that empowers individuals to heal and build resilience- with a particular emphasis on serving minority communities.
I believe in the power of collaboration and lifelong learning, and I am enthusiastic about connecting with like-minded professionals who are interested in doing work that will help serve others. I look forward to engaging with you, sharing insights, and contributing to the collective effort to promote social equity, environmental justice, and holistic healing in our communities.
TAYLOR GILLIAM
Relevant Experience
Work Experience
DIGITAL ACTIVISM STRATEGIST | Generation Conscious
June 2022-Present
- Developed KPI models on 1,000 student users and 15,000 product uses to evaluate the demand for a multi-year six-figure contract to install zero-waste hygiene refill stations on campus.
- Conducted cold outreach to 60+ universities, encouraging them to join Generation Conscious; with the highest response rate on an 11-person team, 13% of cold emails resulted in an introductory meeting, 22% of which closed including several renowned universities.
- Chief manager and creator of the company's TikTok Account. Increased the account's following by 4000% in 5 months
- Increased the number of likes on the TikTok account from 900+ to 84K in 5 months.
- Oversaw the expansion of Generation Conscious refill stations at Rice University, acting as the Program Manager specializing in organizational strategy and cross-campus coalition building.
- Passed a unanimous resolution through the student government, supported by data gathered to reflect the wishes of the Rice student body.
- Engaged in collaborative creative eco-projects with students across the country. Co-authored a climate apocalypse graphic novel and tv series pilot that is in the process of publishing and scripting.
ACCOUNT MANAGER | AR Marketing Group
August 2023-December 2023
- Promoted to Account Manager, overseeing a team of 8 individuals and executing high volumes of sales.
- Led successful business trips, managing logistics, client interactions, and team dynamics outside the office environment.
- Assumed additional responsibilities in office management and administration.
- Achieved sales targets, fostering a collaborative and high-performing sales environment while effectively engaging with our client’s campaign to reach the target market.
PRIVATE SPEECH COACH | 3P Speech
August 2019- Present
- Private Speech Coach working with elementary, middle, and high school students to improve their public speaking skills and Speech and Debate success,
- Coached high school students to national final rounds (top 6 competitors in the country) and success at tournaments held at prestigious universities, such as Harvard.
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & ADVOCACY
Deer Park Advocacy Campaign
Fall 2020
- Worked closely with team members to research and develop a data-driven proposal that addressed refinery abuse of benzene emission standards in Deer Park, Houston. Successfully proposed an enforcement plan to Harris County Attorney, Christian Menefee, that his office implemented to specifically benefit EJ communities in the area,
5th Ward Project
Spring 2019-Spring 2022
- Completed 2 years of independent research with Rice University beginning in the Spring of 2019 that brought visibility to environmental racism in Houston's 5th Ward Neighborhood. Created a short video, 20-page paper, and spoke at EJ panels about environmental injustice as a result.
SELECTED TALKS
TEDxTalk @ Rice University
November 2022
- "Creating in the Face of the Climate Apocalypse"- A talk that discussed the ways creativity has created space for me to grapple with terrifying climate realities and examine the impacts of climate change intersectionally. Through creating, sharing art, and building community with others, we see that creativity can lead to healing- not only of ourselves but our greater Earth system.
Environmental Justice Panels for the Humanities @ Rice University
Fall 2022- Spring 2023
- Acted as a panelist for a series of talks and guest lectures at Rice University to talk about my indepentent research about Environmental Racism in Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood.
RICE UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2023
BA in Political Science | Minor in Environmental Studies
GPA 3.74
ACADEMIC WRITING SAMPLES
Anthropology| Environmental Studies | Political Science
Thank you for visiting!
I am always looking for new and exciting opportunities to join the collective effort of advancing social, racial, and environmental equity. Let's chat soon.
connect with Me
Skills
Awards
Phone
480-278-2385
Public Speaking & Storytelling
Content & Creative Writing
Leadership & Team Management
Speech & Debate All-American
J. Newton Rayzor Award for Forensics
Email
tay.gill02@gmail.com
Microsoft Suite
President's Honor Roll- Spring 2023
Location
Houston, TX