MARSHALL, TEXAS — Wiley University is launching a new Esports program designed as a strategic pipeline to high-paying global careers in technology, business, and media, appointing Silicon Valley technologist Taylor Smith as its inaugural head coach.
A Spelman College alumna, data scientist, educator, and Marshall, Texas native, Smith’s appointment represents more than the launch of a new athletic program. It reflects Wiley University’s continued investment in academic innovation, workforce readiness, inclusive leadership, and student access to emerging career fields.
Smith’s connection to Spelman College, one of the nation’s most respected Historically Black Colleges and Universities and a global leader in educating women of African descent, adds meaningful weight to her appointment. Her journey from an HBCU classroom to Silicon Valley and now back to East Texas positions her as a powerful example of what is possible when HBCU graduates are prepared, supported, and connected to opportunity.
Her appointment also breaks significant barriers, making her one of a small but growing number of women leading collegiate esports programs in a heavily male-dominated industry. Following Wiley University’s recent announcement of women’s flag football during Women’s History Month, the launch of Esports under Smith’s leadership further demonstrates the University’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women, creating new pathways into competitive spaces, and preparing students to lead in industries where representation still matters.
From Local Gamer to Silicon Valley Innovator
A Marshall, Texas native, Smith’s passion for technology began with childhood gaming sessions and evolved into a distinguished career at the intersection of AI and data science. She currently serves as a Senior Analyst on the Generative AI team at Uber Technologies and previously contributed to AI research at Google and held a developer role at a leading EdTech company.
An educator at heart, Smith began her career as a middle school teacher in 2019, earning a “Most Innovative Award” for integrating classroom technology. Over the past six years, while completing her doctoral studies, she taught statistics as an adjunct instructor at the University of Texas and Wayne State University and contributed to major research projects.
Her professional path reflects the kind of interdisciplinary experience Wiley University seeks to cultivate in its students: creativity, technical skill, leadership, adaptability, and a willingness to enter spaces where new possibilities are being created.
“There is nothing like feeding inquisitive minds,” Smith said. “I have always believed that in a proactive learning space, everyone learns from each other. That collaborative, forward-thinking mindset is exactly what I plan to inject directly into this esports program.”
Aligning with a Bold Vision for Professional Success
Wiley University Director of Athletics Darrius Brooks, Ph.D., noted that the Esports program directly aligns with President & CEO Herman J. Felton Jr.’s Bold and Audacious Vision for the institution.
“Ms. Smith was the absolute perfect candidate to launch this program,” Brooks said. “She successfully turned her passion for gaming into a thriving corporate career. I look forward to her guiding our student-athletes to do the exact same — ensuring they win both in collegiate competition and in the modern workforce.”
For Wiley University, the addition of Esports is not simply an expansion of athletics. It is a strategic investment in the future of work. The program is designed to connect students to fast-growing career pathways while strengthening the University’s broader commitment to academic excellence, innovation, student success, and institutional growth.
Wiley University will compete in the National Association of Collegiate Esports, and student recruitment for the inaugural team will get underway immediately.
Mapping Esports to the Global Job Market
By expanding beyond competitive gaming, the program integrates comprehensive academic tracks in technology and engineering, including game design, software engineering, and data analytics. Students can also specialize in media and business through broadcast production, digital marketing, event management, and corporate sponsorships, or explore human performance through sports psychology and coaching.
This approach sets Wiley University’s Esports program apart. Under Smith’s leadership, the program will not only train students to compete, but also prepare them to understand the business, technology, media, and leadership ecosystems that surround the global gaming industry.
To bridge the gap between the classroom and the industry, Smith plans to leverage her Silicon Valley network to connect students directly with tech executives, esports pioneers, and corporate leaders. Her goal is to ensure Wiley University students gain access to the rooms, conversations, and professional networks that often shape career opportunities before graduation.
“I want to bring in guest speakers who truly excite and inspire our students,” Smith explained. “We will send our athletes to major conferences and industry conventions where they can network with tech executives and esports pioneers before graduation. In this industry, when you excel, talent scouts and corporate recruiters find you. That creates an entirely new set of doors for our graduates.”
Continuing a Legacy of HBCU Excellence and Women’s Leadership
Smith’s appointment also strengthens Wiley University’s place within the larger HBCU innovation landscape. As a Spelman alumna leading an inaugural program at Wiley University, she represents the power of HBCU networks, mentorship, and institutional legacy. Her leadership brings together the excellence of two historic institutions with a shared commitment to access, advancement, and transformation.
Her role is especially significant as more women enter and lead in spaces traditionally dominated by men, including technology, gaming, athletics, and artificial intelligence. Through her leadership, Wiley University students will see firsthand that the future of esports is not limited to who plays the game, but includes who designs it, manages it, studies it, funds it, broadcasts it, and leads it.
For donors, partners, and stakeholders invested in the future of HBCUs, the launch of Esports under Smith’s leadership offers a compelling example of how Wiley University is creating modern, market-aligned opportunities for students while staying rooted in its mission to prepare leaders for service, innovation, and impact.
Academic Excellence
Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Spelman College, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science in Data Science from the University of Denver. Her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy, with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence, from the University of Texas at Austin will be officially conferred in July 2026.
Beyond coaching, Smith will teach courses in AI, data science, and business innovation within Wiley University’s upcoming Ph.D. program, set to debut in 2027.
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About Wiley University
Wiley University, formerly known as Wiley College, is a premier liberal arts institution related to the United Methodist Church, with a focus on social good and leadership.
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 14 varsity sports and competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). Women’s flag football and bass fishing are additions in 2027–28. For more information, visit wileyathletics.com or contact Sports Information Director Andrew Glover at 903-927-3399 or adglover@wileyc.edu.
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