Taryn Williams, named ASI “Woman of the Year” and College of Business Outstanding Graduate, is a senior at Cal State Long Beach. She holds several prestigious titles such as CSULB President’s Scholar, US Department of Education McNair Scholarship, and California State University Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar. She recently presented her first TEDx talk entitled: “Second Chance: The Rising Scholars.” She is a loving mother to 5-year-old twins and currently finishing her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a double major in Management and Operations & Supply Chain Management. She is looking forward to a career in non-profit operations or public policy, possibly academia. Last summer, Taryn conducted a multiple regression analysis research project on the opioid crisis in the United States, and presented that research at the McNair Research Symposium, as well as the Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research.

Taryn will finish her Honors thesis this fall, where she will be developing faculty development training to improve outcomes for formerly incarcerated students. She is currently working on doctoral program applications and hopes to enter a PhD Management program in Fall 2021. In addition to her studies, she is passionate about serving her community. Taryn is currently the Senator for the College of Business, Treasurer of Beach Hillel, and sits on the 49er Foundation’s Board of Directors, Commission for the Status of Women and Associated Business Students Organization Council. Among her various volunteer positions, she is also a volunteer recruitment coordinator and campus ambassador for Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry. Taryn hopes to one day start a program called “Breaking Barriers” that will create a supportive environment for students who face homelessness, food insecurity, or were previously incarcerated or in the foster care system.