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Rebecca Taylor is a journalist, lawyer and award-winning professor, whose research interests include literary history, historic preservation and the natural world.

At 20, Taylor graduated from Baylor University with a B.A. in Journalism.  She pursued her law degree while working for various media outlets, and was awarded membership in Law Review and Honor Society.  A former trial attorney and award-winning journalist, she has written for daily newspapers, reported for television, and served as a legal analyst on high-profile court cases.  A fellow at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the Time Warner Thought Leadership Seminar, Taylor teaches communications law and First Amendment theory.  In 2020, she was honored as the recipient of the College’s prestigious Jerome Walton Excellence in Teaching Award for outstanding teaching and creative ability to engage students in intellectually rigorous subject matter.  She won a national Broadcast Education Association Ignite Award in recognition of her innovative teaching methodologies.  
As director of the Journalism program since 2011, Taylor has authored more than a dozen new academic course proposals, developed a popular internship program for student broadcasters, and was awarded the Siena Excellence Award in recognition of her service to the College.  Twice a finalist for the distinguished Raymond Kennedy Excellence in Scholarship Award, her research has been accepted at the International Communication Association, the National Council on Public History, the International Association of Literary Journalism Scholars, and numerous professional and academic organizations.

Degree Program University
J.D. Graduated with Distinction, Law Review, Dean's List, Honor Society University of the Pacific
B.A. Journalism Baylor University

My Siena Experience

My Teaching Philosophy

Active learning. Our students don't just study journalism, they practice it by shooting, editing and writing stories.

What I Love About Siena

There's a strong sense of community at Siena that's evident in and out of the classroom. Our students are competitive, but they clearly support and inspire one another. I find the small class size fosters a spirit of camaraderie that enhances our group productions, and allows professors to work one-on-one with students to further their career goals.

My Favorite Courses to Teach

My communications law class features lively in-class debates and discussions on provocative issues surrounding the First Amendment, censorship and media ethics. It's a chance for students to appreciate the legal and ethical consequences of communicating to a mass audience, which I believe enhances their marketability upon graduation.

My Professional Experience

Awards & Distinctions

  • Jerome M. Walton Excellence in Teaching Award
    Category: Teaching
    Siena College, 2020
  • Nominee, Raymond Kennedy Excellence in Scholarship Award
    Category: Research
    Siena College, 2020
  • Nominee, Raymond Kennedy Excellence in Scholarship Award
    Category: Research
    Siena College, 2019
  • Siena Excellence Award
    Category: Service-University
    Siena College, 2018


  • Category: Teaching
    Broadcast Education Association, 2014
  • Fellow
    Category: Research
    Time-Warner Thought Leadership Seminar, 2014
  • Fellow
    Category: Research
    Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, 2013