Dr. Courtney A. Hammonds
The Dean of Fashion™
Dr. Courtney A. Hammonds is a fashion, education and media professional whose work examines how cultural value is formed through institutional systems, educational frameworks and industry practice.
His career spans fashion media, higher education, retail leadership and consulting, with a focus on the development of cultural and academic infrastructures within the fashion industry.
He is Senior Fashion Editor at Upscale Magazine, Professor at Capella University, and Founder of CAH & Co. Consulting. Through his consulting practice, he advises organizations including Edessa School of Fashion, Startupbootcamp FashionTech, and the St. Lucia Fashion Council, supporting the alignment of education, innovation and industry systems.
Dr. Hammonds’ early experience in special education informs a long-standing focus on observation, learning processes and human development, which has shaped his approach across subsequent roles in retail and academia.
He co-founded URUP Design Luxury Boutique and previously worked in human resources at Neiman Marcus, gaining operational experience within luxury retail environments. He later served as Academic Director at The Art Institute of Atlanta, where he developed a SACS-accredited Fashion Design program and collaborated with Gap Inc. under the Obama administration on curriculum and industry integration.
He holds a Bachelor of Science from Alabama State University, an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Argosy University.
His professional network and work span industry figures including André Leon Talley, Tim Gunn, Alek Wek, Fern Mallis, June Ambrose and Nicolas Ghesquière, alongside brand engagements with Banana Republic, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and UGG across fashion week and retail activations.
His media presence includes appearances on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, InStyle, WWD, and Project Runway, as well as participation in the Emmy-nominated documentary The South Got Something to Say.
His creative and philanthropic work includes HERE, a fragrance collaboration with Dragon Perfumes; written contributions to The Fashion Blueprint: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Brand; and involvement with organizations such as Susan G. Komen, Easterseals North Georgia, and Baldie.com.
Honors include Alabama State University’s 50 Under 50, Capella University Teaching Excellence Award, Modern Luxury Men of Style, and Atelier Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.