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BRISTOL, R.I. – Wanting to serve and help foster a supportive community, senior Taylor Quinn has worked tirelessly through multiple on-campus positions to form a welcoming environment for everyone, while focusing her academic pursuits toward improving mental health outcomes and justice for communities. 

As  President, an Orientation Advisor, and a Dance Theatre Company member, Quinn has proven how getting involved can promote personal and professional benefits. While pursuing two degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice, and minors in Gender & Sexuality Studies and Dance, she discovered her passion for clinical mental health counseling through her classes. The Pawtucket, R.I. native worked with Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Beck Strah to study the wider impacts of training officers in de-escalating mental health crises with non-violent tactics and counseling skills, an experience Quinn said gave her the confidence in finding answers to her curiosities.

“My experience as a research assistant on the evaluation of crisis intervention teams in Rhode Island allowed me to see the power of mental health counseling firsthand,” Quinn said. “This position prepared me for classes that required independent research and gave me the confidence to conduct research and analyze my own data. These skills are important as a therapist when treating clients, and I think will assist me as I enter graduate school.”

As a result of her academic achievements and leadership on campus, she was awarded the President's Core Values Medallion for the School of Justice Studies.

Quinn also worked in the Sports Equipment Room in a work-study role and was a part of the . Through these experiences, Quinn has revealed a niche passion: a drive to create supportive communities. 

After graduation in May, she will be attending a psychology graduate program at Rhode Island College.

Discovering a Path for Change: “My father was a firefighter who emphasized the importance of helping people and being the change others need, which has always been a big inspiration to me. I have always been fascinated by human behavior and why people make the choices they do. I knew I wanted to study psychology and criminal justice, and once I was in classes, so many doors opened. The classes shaped my path, but also my research assistant job opened my eyes to the intersection of counseling and the criminal justice system and the power it can have to create real change.”

Growth in Leadership: “I gained my voice as a leader from being a part of Orientation and Dance Club. If you asked me coming into my first year if I was going to be an Orientation Advisor or the President of the biggest club on campus, I would have said absolutely not. I am the person that I am today because of these leadership experiences and the connections I was able to make. There are so many life lessons that I have learned with conflict management, responsibility, and the importance of empathy as a leader, and I will take all of them with me as I continue my journey. These opportunities allowed me to interact and connect with so many different people and create meaningful relationships. We all come from different backgrounds, but these experiences emphasized the importance of finding a common ground to reach people. That is such an important skill as a therapist.”

Moment of Reflection: “So many of our faculty members are such incredible mentors, so if you have a dream, they will do everything they can to see you succeed. I feel so grateful to have even been considered for the Core Values Medallion. I think sometimes we forget to sit back and actually look at everything we have accomplished. Receiving the medallion was my reminder to be proud of myself. I reached my goals of making an impact on this campus both academically and socially. I am so honored.” 

Mentors That Inspire: “Assistant Provost for Student Success Allison Chase Padula, Assistant Dean for Student Life Carol Sacchetti, Professor of Psychology Garrett Berman, and Professor Strah got me through my four years here. There are no words for how grateful I am that they took me under their wings. They all saw something in me that I couldn’t. They have been there for me, cheering me on through all my highs and lows. They are incredible individuals that I look up to and hope to one day be as wonderful as they are.”

Advice for Incoming Students: “Get involved; I have gained lifelong friends and amazing experiences because I decided to get involved in campus life. Doors will open for you, and you will discover so many great things about yourself. My involvement is what made Roger Williams feel like home to me. My final piece of advice is to always be true to yourself.”