Welcome
Vice President for Student Success & Engagement and Dean of Students
A dedicated higher education leader with deep expertise in student success, retention, and institutional transformation. Committed to building the structures and partnerships that help every student persist, graduate, and thrive.
About
Dr. Calley Stevens Taylor is a higher education leader whose career has been shaped by a deep commitment to student success and institutional transformation. As Vice President for Student Success & Engagement and Dean of Students at Cedar Crest College, she provides leadership for a broad portfolio that includes Academic Advising, Accessibility Services, the Act 101 FALCONERS program, basic needs and Closing the Gap resources, Career Development and Community Engagement, the First Year Experience, Health and Counseling Services, International Student Services, Housing & Residence Life, Community Standards, Student Engagement, Title IX, and tutoring services.
Prior to her current role, Dr. Stevens Taylor served as Dean of Student Success and Director of Student Success and Retention at Cedar Crest, where she implemented the Finish Line retention management program, coordinated the development of the Student Success Center and the Center for Diversity and Global Engagement, and led student success initiatives that produced significant increases in retention and graduation rates.
Before joining Cedar Crest, she served as Director of Advising and Enrollment Services at Reading Area Community College and Director of Advising and Learning Support at the University of North Carolina – Asheville.
Dr. Stevens Taylor earned her Ph.D. in International and Comparative Education from Lehigh University, where her dissertation research examined the impact of international engagement on U.S. regional accrediting agencies. She also holds an M.S. in College Student Personnel from the University of Tennessee–Knoxville and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina – Asheville.
Vision
"Student success is not a program — it is the organizing principle around which every decision, partnership, and resource should be aligned."
Dr. Stevens Taylor leads with the conviction that student success is an institutional responsibility, not an individual one. Her approach centers on building the structures, programs, and cross-functional partnerships that remove barriers and create clear pathways from enrollment through graduation and into meaningful careers.
She is a collaborative leader who bridges academic and student affairs, using data to identify where students struggle and shared governance to design solutions. Her work consistently reflects a belief that retention and completion are not merely metrics — they are measures of whether an institution is keeping its promise to the students it enrolls.
Central to her philosophy is an unwavering focus on access and equity. Whether developing first-year experience programs, expanding basic needs resources, or leading grant-funded initiatives that connect academic preparation to career outcomes, Dr. Stevens Taylor's work is guided by the belief that higher education remains among society's most transformative investments.
Career
Provides leadership for a comprehensive student affairs and academic services portfolio spanning advising, accessibility services, basic needs resources, career development, the first year experience, health and counseling, international student services, housing and residence life, community standards, student engagement, and Title IX. Currently serves as project director for the Crest-to-Career initiative, funded by a federal Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant.
Implemented the Finish Line retention management program and coordinated the development of the Student Success Center and the Center for Diversity and Global Engagement. Led student success initiatives that resulted in significant increases in retention and graduation rates.
Led advising and enrollment operations at a community college serving a diverse student population, building systems to support student persistence and completion.
Directed advising and learning support services at a public liberal arts university, developing programs to strengthen academic support and student engagement.
Media & Writing
Curriculum Vitae
For a complete overview of professional experience, publications, presentations, and service, please download the full curriculum vitae below.
Download CV (PDF)Connect
Dr. Stevens Taylor welcomes inquiries related to speaking engagements, professional collaboration, and leadership opportunities in higher education.