Hillary Sackett Taylor
Assistant Provost for Educational Excellence and Retention

Biography

As a dedicated higher education leader, I am committed to shaping institutional strategy that champions student success, academic achievement, and inclusive excellence. With experience spanning academic affairs and student development, I bring a collaborative and data-informed approach to advancing institutional effectiveness.

In my role as Assistant Provost, I lead cross-functional teams to design and implement initiatives that enhance the student experience and foster a culture of belonging for all learners. I believe in the transformative power of education, not just to prepare students for careers, but to empower them as thinkers, leaders, and agents of change. My professional mission is to ensure that all students have access to the resources, support, and learning environments they need to thrive.

Education

  • B.A. Mathematics and Statistics, Smith College

  • M.S. Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University

  • Ph.D. Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University

Areas of Research

Applied Micro-economics

Behavioral Economics

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Sustainability Studies

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Publications

Book Forthcoming:

Compassion Economies: Reimagining Value in an Interdependent World

This book explores the foundational critiques and transformative visions of six influential thinkers: Elinor Ostrom, E.F. Schumacher, Tania Singer & Matthieu Ricard, Gary Lamb, and Ronald Trosper, each challenging the assumptions of mainstream economic thought. Moving beyond narrow models of self-interest and growth, these authors offer alternative frameworks grounded in ethics, spirituality, compassion, relational accountability, and sustainable stewardship.

Through in-depth analysis and comparative study, Compassionate Economies reveals how diverse academic traditions, ranging from political economy and neuroscience to Indigenous knowledge and spiritual science, converge around the central idea that economics must serve human dignity, community well-being, and ecological health. This book is both a critical examination of dominant economic paradigms and a hopeful invitation to build systems rooted in care, cooperation, and respect for the planet.

The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Microeconomics. WW Norton & Company, 2021.

The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Macroeconomics. WW Norton & Company, 2017

Staples, A. J., Sackett-Taylor, H. M., Forgue, J., Brewer, S. B., & Sarnikar, S. (2020). A mixed methods approach to uncover common error patterns in student reasoning of supply and demand. The Journal of Economic Education, 51(3-4), 271-286. PDF Download

Sackett, H. M., & Kelley, L. (2017). Norm Sensitivity and Preferences for Credence Attributes Elicited in Experimental Auctions: The Case of Animal Welfare Information and WTP for Ice Cream. Invited Paper: Applied and Agricultural Economics Association Meeting. PDF Download

Sackett, H., Shupp, R., & Tonsor, G. (2016). Differentiating “sustainable” from “organic” and “local” food choices: Does information about certification criteria help consumers? International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), 4(3), 17-31. PDF Download

Sackett, H., & Shupp, R. (2014). Personality and procedural invariance: Effects on bidding behavior across induced value experimental auction mechanisms. Invited Paper: Applied and Agricultural Economics Association Meeting.  PDF Download

Sackett, H. M., Shupp, R., & Tonsor, G. (2013). Consumer perceptions of sustainable farming practices: A Best-Worst scenario. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 42(2), 275-290. PDF Download

Sackett, H. M., Shupp, R., & Tonsor, G. (2013). Willingness to Pay for Sustainably Labeled Foods: A Measurement Comparison. Invited Paper: Applied and Agricultural Economics Association Meeting. PDF Download

Professional Service

  • Commonwealth Honors Program
    • Director (2022 – 2025)
    • Assistant Director (2019 – 2022)
    • Faculty Fellow (2018)
  • Department of Economics
    • Department Chair (2021 – 2023)
    • Full Professor (2025 – Present)
    • Associate Professor (2018 – 2025)
    • Assistant Professor (2012 – 2018)
  • Masters Program in Public Administration
    • Professor (2018 – Present)

Volunteerism

Hillary has been a volunteer coach with Girls on the Run of Western Massachusetts since 2017.

Dr. Hillary Sackett-Taylor Headshot