Brandi Taylor, C'2001, is the director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Pursuits in the Office of Research, Innovation and Collaboration.
A proud Spelman alumna, Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Spelman and a Master of Science degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Health Informatics from Georgia State University. She led ORIC's Undergraduate Research and Training Programs (URTP) Unit from October 2019 to July 2025 before being promoted to her current role as director.
Taylor has served the Spelman community for over 18 years. As a member of the ORIC Team for almost six years, she has embraced the department's core values of "Advocacy, Communication, Excellence, Inclusiveness and Resourcefulness." In her previous role as Undergraduate Research and Training Programs Manager, Taylor spearheaded transformative activities to expand student access to high-impact research and creative experiences. She has also been intentional about broadening undergraduate research engagement within the arts and humanities, working closely with faculty and students to elevate creative scholarly pursuits and ensure that all disciplines are represented and celebrated.
One of the major initiatives under Taylor's leadership is Research Day, one of the College's annual signature events, which showcases the scholarly and creative excellence of undergraduate students. Under her guidance, Spelman's Annual Research Day has flourished — growing in size, visibility, and impact through enhanced corporate sponsorship, student engagement from all academic divisions, and strategic programming.
In addition to her contributions at Spelman with URTP and service on college-wide committees, Taylor is also engaged at the national level. She has been invited to co-author modules for the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) and present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).
In her role as director, Taylor leads the continued growth of the undergraduate research and creative inquiry enterprise, with a focus on inclusive excellence, interdisciplinary engagement, and postgraduate readiness. Her work is instrumental in positioning students — and the institution — for continued success.