Ryan W. Taylor

Dr. Taylor is a deeply interdisciplinary scholar whose training in environmental science and environmental studies at several of the nation’s leading natural‑resource institutions has shaped his broad perspective on contemporary environmental challenges. By integrating social‑science and natural‑science research methods into his policy work, he has developed a comprehensive, multidimensional understanding of the environmental issues facing communities across North America.
Alongside his academic career, Dr. Taylor has built a successful public‑sector practice as an environmental professional. His systems‑based view of the world has enabled him to serve as an environmental planner, policymaker, and natural‑resource manager at every level of government in the United States.
At Purchase College, he is enthusiastic about leading a department dedicated to preparing the next generation of environmental professionals. He regularly draws on his real‑world experience to immerse students in the kinds of practical challenges they will encounter in their careers.
Dr. Taylor is particularly passionate about teaching students to build sophisticated environmental models using Geographic Information Systems. Students consistently note his high‑energy lectures, rigorous assignments, and the way his courses push them to deepen their understanding of both the physical and political dimensions of environmental problem‑solving.

Areas of Expertise

Environmental Policy Implementation, Geographic Information Systems, Water Resource Assessment, Natural Resource Management, & Environmental Modeling.

Natural Science Research Interests

Wetland Characteristics & Restoration; Freshwater Hydrology; Fluvial Geomorphology; Riparian Habitat Evaluation & Restoration; Aquatic Resource Impact Analysis, Ecological Consequences of Beaver Reintroduction & Nonpoint Source Pollution.

Social Science Research Interests

Environmental Politics, Policy, & Law; Natural Resource Program Assessment; GIS in Natural Resource Management; Federalism & Intergovernmental Relations; Watershed Management & Planning; Local & Statewide Land Use Regulation, Nature Interpretation and Environmental Art .

• ENV 3880 - Junior Seminar
• ENV 3700 - Natural Resources
• ENV 3640 - Watershed Science & Lab
• ENV 3300 - Environmental Regulations
• ENV 3150 - Geographic Information Systems
• ENV 3163 - Cloud GIS and Remote Sensing Technologies
• ENV 3153 - Advanced GIS Lab
• ENV 3030 - Environmental Policy
• ENV 2720 - Geology & Lab
• ENV 2300 - Physical Geography
• ENV 2260 - Art & the Environment
• ENV 1500 - Intro to Environmental Science
• FRS 1030 - First-Year Seminar

Taylor, Ryan W. ”Wetlands Protection: The Forgotten Agenda.” Widening the Scope of Environmental Policies in North America: Towards Blue Approaches. Palgrave, series in Governance, Development and Social Inclusion in Latin America. Gustavo Sosa-Nunez (editor) (2018).

Taylor, Ryan W., and Heather Saunders. ”The Art and Environment of Embedded Librarianship.” College and Undergraduate Libraries. 21.2: 145-154, 2014.

Taylor, Ryan W. Federalism of Wetlands. London: Routledge, 2013.

Inwood, Hillary, and Ryan W. Taylor. “Creative Approaches to Environmental Learning: two perspectives on teaching environmental art education.” International Online Journal of Environmental Education. 2.1: 65-75, 2012.

Taylor, Ryan W. Wetlands Demystified (2nd Edition). Seattle: Environmental Outreach and Stewardship Alliance, 2009.

Taylor, Ryan W. Wetlands Demystified (1st Edition). Seattle: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 2008.

Taylor, Ryan W.  Evaluation of the Intergovernmental Relationships between State and National Government Agencies in Wetland Regulatory Units. Corvallis: Oregon State University, 2006.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  Endangered Species of Illinois  (Ryan W. Taylor, Editor).  Springfield: Illinois Department of Natural Resources,  1999.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  Illinois’ Wetlands (Ryan W. Taylor, Editor).  Springfield: Illinois Department of Natural Resources,  1999.

Taylor, Ryan W. and William McClain A Field Guide to the Wetlands of Illinois (2nd Edition). Springfield: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 2000.

Taylor, Ryan W. and Douglas Abderhalden.  Nationwide Survey of State Wetland Regulatory Programs. Springfield:  Illinois Department of Natural Resources,  1997.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS:

Remote Instruction, Remote Sensing, and Remote Work: Rewriting “the three Rs” of a basic GIS education. NY State GIS Association, GIS Regional User Group – Annual Meeting. Remote (2022).

Regional GIS Training – What do we need? NY State GIS Association, GIS Regional User Group – Annual Meeting. Purchase, NY (2017).

The Value of Professional GIS Certification in the New Millennia . NY State GIS Association, GIS Regional User Group – Annual Meeting.  Purchase, NY (2016).

Experiments in Sustainable Collaborative Online International Learning. SUNY COIL Center Annual Meeting.  New York, NY (2015)

The socio-ecological consequences of beaver resurgence in New York City’s Watershed. Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences - Annual Meeting.  New York, NY (2014)

Educating Tomorrow’s Geospatial Professionals. NY State GIS Association, GIS Regional User Group – Annual Meeting.  Purchase, NY (2013).

The Art and Environment of Embedded Librarianship. 9^th Columbia University Libraries Symposium. New Models of Academic Collaboration. New York, NY. (2012).

Using Art to Frame Environmental Discussions. Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences Annual Meeting. Burlington, VT. (2011).

Evolving GIS Curriculum. NY State GIS Association - GIS Regional User Group Meeting.  White Plains, NY (2011)

Environment is Everything: Art & the Environment at Purchase College. The Royal Conservatory of Music. The Arts for Social and Environmental Justice Symposium.  Toronto, Ontario.  (2010).

The Influence of State Wetland Regulations upon the Section 404 Program. Association of State Wetland Managers. Annual Meeting. Williamsburg, Virginia.  (2007).

The Unintended Consequences of State Wetland Regulations on the Administration of the Section 404 Program. Society of Wetland Scientists. Annual Meeting. Sacramento, California.  (2007).

 Surface Morphology Indicators for Assessing Riverine Wetland Condition.  Cline, Taylor & Kentula. Society of Wetland Scientists. Annual Meeting.  Cairns, Australia.  (2006).

PROFESSIONAL POSTERS:

Tipping, Bethany. & R.W. Taylor. 2014. The Effects of a Fluctuating Beaver Population. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students.   San Antonio, TX.

Koval, D., Kim, J.K., Kraemer, G.P., Yarish, C. & Taylor, R.W.   2014. GIS Modeling of Aquiculture Sites in Long Island Sound for Nutrient Bio-extraction. New England Estuaries Research Society.  Brown University.  Providence, RI.

Taylor, Ryan W. 2011. Bathymetric Study of Putnam Lake: an integration of GPS, SONAR, and GIS interpolation technologies. NY State GIS Association, GIS Regional User Group – Fall Meeting.  Westchester Community College, Pleasantville, NY.

Taylor, Ryan W., K. Barrett & Johnson.  2010. Rye Nature Center Welcome Map. 25th Annual New York State GIS Conference. New York State GIS Association.  Lake Placid, New York.   

Taylor, Ryan W. 2003. Social Impediments to Effective Communication about Risks Associated with Salmon Carcass Placement. Joint Campus Conference for Environmental Sciences. Portland State University. Portland, Oregon.   

CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS:

Site Host. New York State GIS Association, GIS Regional User Group - Spring Meeting. Purchase College. Purchase, New York. (2012-Present).

Organizer, and Lead Instructor. PIRE CREATE Academy. Purchase College. Purchase, NY. (2023).

Online Instructional Designer/Presenter. PIRE CREATE Academy Webinar Series. Remote Delivery. Albany, NY. (2020).

Pedagogical Architect, and Lead Instructor. PIRE CREATE Academy. Purchase College. Purchase, NY. (2019).

Ansel Adams and Our Cadillac Desert. Neuberger Museum of Art – Open Classroom Gallery. Purchase College. Curators: Lindberg, Kristen and Ryan Taylor. Purchase, NY. (2019).

Art Clarifies Science? Neuberger Museum of Art – Open Classroom Gallery. Purchase College. Purchase, NY. (2018).

Participant. Geoscience Diversity Experiential Simulations. NSF Geo Opportunities for Leadership and Diversity Program. National Corporation for Atmospheric Research. (2017- 2018).

Everyplace is somewhere. So why isn’t your class there too?  Purchase College Teaching & Learning Technology Day.  Purchase College, Purchase, New York (2015)

Educating indispensable geospatial professionals for the 21^st  century. North East Arc User Group annual Meeting. Panel Discussion Moderator.  Saratoga Springs, NY.  (2011)

GIS Based Resources for the Classroom. Purchase College, Bridges Program.  Instructor.  7^th Annual National Science Foundation Pedagogy Workshop.  Purchase, New York. (2009).

Wetlands Demystified! Environmental Outreach and Stewardship Alliance. Lead Instructor.  Designed a 3-day professional wetland delineation/restoration/management workshop. Portland, Oregon.  (2009).

Wetlands Demystified! Northwest Environmental Training Center.  Lead Instructor.  Designed a 3-day professional wetland delineation/restoration/management workshop. Portland, Oregon.  (2008).

The Structure of Wildlife Habitat. Oregon State University – Extension. Guest Speaker.  Presented at the 2-day Backyard Wildlife Workshop. Ashland, Oregon.  (2005).

Understanding Illinois’ Wetlands. Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  Co-Instructor.  Presented at the 3-Day Illinois ENTICE Educator In-Service Program. Peoria, Illinois.  (2000).

POPULAR ARTICLES:

Taylor, Ryan W. Sightings in the Swamp: What’s with all the dead trees? Friends of the Great Swamp Newsletter. Volume 20, Issue 1. Winter/Spring 2019.

Taylor, Ryan W. This summer’s fish kill got you down? Don’t blame the beaver… at least not entirely. Friends of the Great Swamp Newsletter.  Volume 12, Issue 3.  Fall 2011. 

Taylor, Ryan W. Are Dams of the Great Swamp’s Resident Beavers Altering the Ecosystem? Friends of the Great Swamp Newsletter. Volume 11, Issue 3.  2010.