- Ph.D., M.A., Social Psychology and Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Denver
- B.A., Psychology, Religious Studies, Tulane University
Taylor Newton is an associate professor of psychology. She joined Lenoir-Rhyne in 2016, following her appointment at Central College. In the classroom, Newton most enjoys teaching research methods classes in addition to social psychology, evolutionary psychology, statistics and special topics courses such as the psychology of religion. In addition, she regularly brings groups of students to research conferences to present their original studies.
Her research interests primarily focus on the interrelationship of religious identities and beliefs, moral behavior and perceptions of the relationship between science and religion. In 2020, she received an Appalachian College Association Faculty Fellowship Award to support her sabbatical working with researchers and government officials to identify ways to apply insights from behavioral science to further public health goals during the COVID-19 pandemic and other research.
In 2021, she received a grant to provide 14 LR students with paid internships to serve as ambassadors for the COVID-19 vaccine. She and her fellow faculty mentor guided these students as they hosted educational events, brought vaccine clinics to underserved populations and created media designed to combat misinformation.