A CEO Story: Marissa Taylor

Marissa Rivas Taylor’s journey embodies the transformative power of education and the spirit of giving back. In 2016, she discovered the Center for Educational Outreach through the Wolverine Express program, which connects U-M faculty and staff with high school students to share their college-going journeys. As a first-generation Latina from California, Marissa recalls that “while Southern California has a larger Latinx community than Michigan,” she “seldom saw Latinas pursue higher education, apart from [her] college adviser, Ms. Alvarez.” She credits Ms. Alvarez for guiding her through the uncertainties of being a first-generation student and helping her attain the Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship.

Determined to pay it forward, Marissa eagerly volunteered with the Wolverine Express. She inspired countless students for years by sharing her insights on persuading admission officers, scholarship committees and hiring managers to believe in their potential. “I always started my presentation by taping a $20 bill on the whiteboard and saying, ‘Convince me to give this to you by the end of the period, and it’s yours,’ and without fail, every student straightened up and was ready to learn,” she recounts.

In 2018, Marissa joined the CEO team as a staff member, spearheading initiatives to enhance K-12 educational outreach across campus and the state. Utilizing her expertise in design thinking and educational technology, she focused on making education more accessible and engaging for students from all backgrounds.

Promoted to Assistant Director for Technology and Communication following the COVID-19 pandemic, Marissa was crucial in helping the CEO team, U-M units, and statewide outreach efforts transition to digital and virtual platforms. She aimed to create meaningful pilots to enhance the impact of these resources rather than providing temporary solutions.

In the fall of 2024, Marissa began a Ph.D. program at Michigan State University in Educational Technology and Educational Psychology. Her research explores how first-generation students persistence in STEM majors and careers is shaped and developed. “Watching the great work of U-M faculty involved with CEO and outreach is inspiring. I admire how they aimed to change the lives of the students they served today, while also conducting research to benefit students on a larger scale. I knew very quickly that it was what I wanted to do.”

“I admire how [faculty] aimed to change the lives of the students they served today, while also conducting research to benefit students on a larger scale. I knew very quickly that it was what I wanted to do.”

This story originally appeared in “Celebrating 15 Years of Educational Outreach.”