Dr. Courtney A. Hammonds, DBA — The Dean of Fashion™

With over 20 years of experience shaping minds, cultivating talent, and advancing the fashion and academic landscapes, Dr. Courtney A. Hammonds blends vision, expertise, and influence. From his early work as a special education teacher to guiding talent and culture as Assistant HR Manager at Neiman Marcus Atlanta, he has shaped people and organizations at every level.

As Academic Program Director at The Art Institute of Atlanta, he launched the first BFA in Fashion Design, secured full SACS accreditation, and developed innovative curricula that merge creativity with workforce development. His work has earned national recognition, including contributions to Obama-era skill-building initiatives, demonstrating a career rooted in empowering others and transforming industries.

Today, Dr. Courtney A. Hammonds serves as a professor at Capella University and Georgia Military College while leading CAH & Co., where he applies expertise in business consulting, luxury retail, HR strategy, and curriculum development to help organizations innovate and succeed.

Known as The Dean of Fashion™, he mentors emerging designers and brands through Startupbootcamp FashionTech in Milan, hosts the Miss Universe St. Lucia Pageant, and curates fashion initiatives across Europe and the Caribbean as Fashion Ambassador for the St. Lucia Fashion Council, shaping the next generation of creative leaders.

As Senior Fashion Editor at Upscale Magazine and former editor at HERS Magazine, Dr. Hammonds shapes conversations at the intersection of fashion, culture, and media. He began his commentary as a blogger during the early seasons of Project Runway and Project Accessory and as a contributor for Sheen magazine. Today, he is a trusted voice across ABC, CBS, FOX, GQ, InStyle, NBC, NPR, and WWD, including a monthly Fashion Friday segment on an NBC affiliate.

From André Leon Talley, Tim Gunn, and Fern Mallis to Mimi Plange, June Ambrose, Mychael Knight, Set Shakur, Emme, Nicolas Ghesquière, Clare Waight Keller, and Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel, Dr. Hammonds has collaborated with some of fashion and culture’s most influential figures—bringing style, insight, and cultural perspective to audiences worldwide.

With a DBA, MBA, and B.S. in Education, Dr. Hammonds fuses academic rigor with creative vision. Honored with the Stephen Shank Award for Teaching Excellence, the President’s Volunteer Service Award, Alabama State University’s 50 Under 50, and Modern Luxury Atlanta’s “Man of Style,” he inspires transformation, elevates voices, and drives global impact.