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. She serves on the LHSON Faculty Affairs Committee, Dean's Board of Advocates and Baylor University Staff Council representing the LHSON.

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.

Involved in professional organizations to bolster growth in her field, Whitney has been a 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.

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 The 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 also attended The Disney Institute, Employee Engagement Program and Leadership Essentials training through Baylor University in 2019. Her continuing education also included participation in a rigorous 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.

Giving back to the community through volunteering, Whitney has been devoted to share her time and talent where needed. 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. She is a member of the Baylor Women's Round Table and leads a quarterly special interest group in Dallas for an "Off-Campus Lunch Group." In addition, she is a Sustainer with the Junior League of Dallas, Texas (JLD-TX) and was a member of the Junior League of Denver, Colorado (JLD-CO). She also 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 to support their 2023 fall fundraising event, A Grateful Harvest. Previous community support both globally and domestically has 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 to be shared in 2024. She is also a long-time member of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, active in the Sunday morning Esther Women's Class; a member of the traditional service worship choir; leads the choir's Shepherd Ministry and is a volunteer Director for the Wednesday night preschool choir for 3-year-olds. Whitney enjoys attending the JLD-TX monthly book club and is an Independent Consultant for Arbonne International. In 2017 she participated in the Dallas White Rock Half Marathon and is training for The BMW DallasRun 10K in December 2023.