Taylor holds a B.A. in Linguistics with a minor in Sociology from the University of Nevada, Reno, as well as an M.A. in Folklore and Public Culture from the University of Oregon. After completing her graduate studies, she worked for four years as a public folklorist, conducting qualitative research for multi-year projects in collaboration with five arts agencies throughout the Intermountain West. The data she collected through fieldwork contributed to digital archival projects, exhibit collaborations, podcasts, and folklife festivals, while also deepening her understanding of how material and expressive culture reflect and give form to values, trends and collective identities.