Whitney Taylor Cortner

Whitney Taylor Cortner is a proud Texas native who grew up in San Antonio, Texas (originally from Beeville, Texas) and is a dedicated community volunteer and business leader. She has an extensive professional background in marketing/communications, public relations, editorial/publishing, special event planning and fundraising. She has served as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) in Dallas, Texas since 2014. 

Work and Education
Contributing to the ever-changing business marketplace, Whitney’s professional background reflects both corporate and non-profit experience including: Director of Development for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy Foundation in Boulder, Colorado; Communications Specialist/Managing Editor for the Credit Union Associations of Colorado and Wyoming; Publications Editor for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce; Managing Editor for MARCOA Publishing in Dallas, Texas; Marketing Coordinator for Hope Cottage Pregnancy and Adoption Center and Public Relations Account Coordinator for MBRK Public Relations and Advertising Agency, both headquartered in Dallas.

Whitney graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a minor in Marketing in 1995. She completed the distinguished T. Boone Pickens Leadership Institute through Junior League of Dallas in 2017. The 10-month training program was based on Clifton StrengthsFinder 2.0: ranking her strengths as: Discipline – Strategic – Responsibility – Analytical – Individualization. Additionally, Enneagram rated her as: "One," The Improver (with "Wings" Type 9, The Peacemaker & Type 2, The Helper). Whitney attended The Disney Institute, Employee Engagement Program and Leadership Essentials training through Baylor University in 2019. Her continuing education also included participation in a 10-month online study course, Certification in Public Relations (APRPREP) in 2019 and an InstaGram Masterclass, From Popular To Profitable Marketing in 2021. She earned verified certificates through an online MicroMasters program from Curtin University, Perth, Australia in Reputation Management in a Digital World and Digital Branding and Engagement in 2021. She was a Guest Editor in 2009 for a 246-page National Institute for Trial Advocacy book, Effective Courtroom Advocacy by the Honorable Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. In addition, she served as a Special Project Editor in 1999 for the Greater Dallas Chamber's millennium celebration 400-page book, Dallas Reflections & Visions.

Professional Organizations and Committees
Involved in professional organizations to bolster growth in her field, Whitney has been part of organizations such as: Public Relations Society of America; Colorado Non-Profit Association; Association for Fundraising Professionals; Association for Women in Communications; Greater Dallas Chamber; and freelance writing with Prudential Texas Properties and The Advocate Magazine. She also currently serves on the Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing Board of Advocates, LHSON Faculty Affairs Committee and Baylor University Staff Council representing the LHSON as Parliamentarian of the Executive Committee. She was previously Staff Council Chair of the Advancement Committee, Co-Chair of the STAAF Committee and a member of the HR Advisory Committee.

Awards and Honors
Recognized for her corporate dedication, Whitney received the BaylorPLUS Salute award from Baylor University Human Resources in 2023 and 2021. She also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the LHSON Simulation Lab in 2016 for participation as a standardized patient.  Whitney was truly honored to serve as a member of the President's Leadership Forum Steering Committee at Baylor University from 1994-1995 under the helm of Baylor's 11th President Herbert H. Reynolds and Martha Lou Scott, Dean for Student Life.

Community and Special Interests
Giving back to the community through volunteering and support, Whitney has been devoted to share her time, talent and treasure where needed. She is a member of Baylor University Old Main Society, George W. Bush Presidential Center and the Dallas Museum of Art. She was the 2022-2023 President of the Baylor University Women’s Council of Dallas and was the chapter founder and multi-year president of the Baylor University Women’s Council of Colorado established in 2005. In addition, she is a Sustainer with Junior League of Dallas, Texas (JLD-TX) and was a member of Junior League of Denver, Colorado (JLD-CO). She volunteered in 2012 for a service project through JLD-CO at Round Up River Ranch/SeriousFun Children's Network (a global community of medical specialty camps for children founded by actor Paul Newman) and volunteered in 2023 for their fall fundraising event near Vail, Colorado, A Grateful Harvest. She received a Certificate of Completion in 2023 from Ministry Safe Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Youth Camp Act. In 2013 she was certified as a foster/adopt parent through Denver and Boulder, Colorado. Previous community involvement both domestically and globally included: Compassion International; Louisville Library Foundation; The Children’s Museum of Denver; Austin Street Center; Dallas Evergreen Gala; Dallas Heart Ball and GuyRex Productions of Miss Texas/USA. 

In her free-time, Whitney personally published a cookbook in 2001, “Share The Flavors, A Feast of Family Recipes” and is working on a new edition. She is also a long-time member of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas and sings in the Traditional Sanctuary Worship Choir and leads the choir's Shepherd Ministry. She also volunteered in 2023 as director for Wednesday night preschool choir (3-year-olds) at PCBC. Whitney enjoys attending the JLD-TX monthly book club and is an Independent Consultant for Arbonne International. She is an avid runner and has participated in various 5K and 10K runs including: Dallas White Rock Half Marathon (2017); BMW DallasRun 10K & 5K (2023 & 2025); Dallas Hot Chocolate 5K (2024, 2025 & 2026); McKinney Shamrock 5K (2024); Dallas Arboretum Tour des Fleurs 10K (2024); Fiesta De Mayo 5K (2026); Komen Race for the Cure of North Texas 5K (2024 & 2025); Trinity Falls Trail-Day 5K (2025) and YMCA Dallas Turkey Trot 5K (2025). Serving as Whitney's inspirational guidepost is Baylor’s motto, Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, reminding us that “our past is inextricably linked to our future, and that responsibility to God, and to the world, continues to lead us.”