Sherria D. Taylor

Sherria D. Taylor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Child & Adolescent Development at San Francisco State University, part of the College of Health & Social Sciences. She serves as Faculty Advisor and leads program development and evaluation for the nonprofit ACCEPT in Reno, Nevada. Her work focuses on family resilience, social justice pedagogy, and mental health through Indigenous and Womanist theoretical frameworks. Dr. Taylor holds a Ph.D. in Family Studies from Loma Linda University (2013) and has secured over $1.5M in grants for community programs.

• B.A. Psychology, Oral Roberts University
• M.A. Marriage & Family Counseling, University of Nevada, Reno
• Ph.D. Family Studies, Loma Linda University (2013)

Her research explores family and community resilience, compassionate inquiry in substance abuse prevention, and spirituality’s buffering effects in marginalized communities. Recent work emphasizes transforming higher education through social justice pedagogy models, as seen in peer-reviewed publications on classroom equity and curriculum design. She advises graduate students and collaborates on projects addressing systemic inequities affecting BIPOC populations.

Dr. Taylor’s work with ACCEPT integrates academic research and community practice, securing grants to fund programs promoting cultural education and equity. Her publications highlight innovative tools like the Spiritual Perspective Scale-Family Version (SPS-FV) and the Social Justice Syllabus Design Tool.