Meet Courtney Doss (Animal Science ’07)
Doss of Dallas, Texas, has a heart for supporting students and empowering people to realize their full potential. She discovered this as a first-generation student in the Herbert College of Agriculture at UT. The support she received from her mentors inspired her to shift her career goals away from her original plan, veterinary medicine, and toward a new passion: education.
Now, as the founder and CEO of Soft Melanin, a lifestyle coaching company striving to empower Black women to embrace their authentic selves, and the director of process improvement for the Advancement and Development Division at Dallas College, she lives out these passions every day. Throughout her sixteen-year journey in higher education, she has made countless impacts on the lives of students as she prioritized uplifting underserved communities.
In her current leadership position, although she does not interact directly with students regularly, her work is no less impactful. Each day, she leads comprehensive assessments that identify inefficiencies, standardizes procedures and implements strategies to streamline grant-related processes, ultimately working to enhance the overall student experience.
Her efforts in higher education are not going unnoticed. In 2024, Doss was named among the highly esteemed Volunteer 40 Under 40, UT Knoxville’s recognition of alumni under the age of 40 excelling personally and professionally since completing their degree at UT.
“My experience at the UT College of Agriculture laid the foundation for my career in higher education. The hands-on learning and focus on sustainability fostered my appreciation for systemic thinking and strategic innovation, both of which I apply in my current work. It also inspired my journey into education, as I wanted to stay connected to the academic environment that shaped me so deeply.”
-Courtney Doss
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