Taylor Mock

Education

M.A., Biology, Miami University, 2025

B.S., Biology, Westmont College, 2025

Site Affiliation: Detroit Zoological Society

Taylor Mock brings extensive leadership experience in environmental education to her role with the AIP at the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS), developing impactful programs that empower individuals and communities to become environmental stewards. As a Senior Humane Education Specialist at DZS, she focuses primarily on teen initiatives that fosters kinship ecology, community-based conservation, and environmental arts engagement. Taylor earned her Master of Arts in Biology from Miami University and Project Dragonfly in 2025 and her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Westmont College in 2015. Through her master's work, Taylor integrated ecological conservation research with inquiry-based learning to connect urban residents with the natural world. Her commitment to inclusive education and public engagement has earned regional recognition, including distinction as an Outstanding Interpreter by the National Association for Interpretation and the 2023 Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award from the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education. A former educational fellow with both the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies and the National Science Foundation’s Joint Science Education Project, Taylor continues to bridge research and practice through empathy-driven pedagogy. She works to remove barriers that limit historically excluded audiences from accessing nature-based experiences, believing that deep listening creates space for authentic understanding.