INTEGRITY. CHARACTER. COURAGE.

Dorothy Burton is the Founder and President of Christians In Public Service (CIPS), a Texas-based nonprofit rooted in the teachings of Jesus and focused on leadership formation, ethical public service, and civic understanding.

A fifth-generation Texan, Dorothy’s work is shaped by decades of experience in local government, faith, leadership, journalism, and public accountability.

She was the first African American elected to the Duncanville, Texas City Council, where she served four terms. That experience gave her firsthand understanding of the pressure, scrutiny, disagreement, difficult decisions, and human realities that come with public leadership.

Dorothy also served as Chairwoman of the Dallas Central Appraisal District Board of Directors and as a board member of the National League of Cities Women in Municipal Government.

She earned a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from UTA, where she was recognized as an Outstanding African American Alum.

She is a graduate of Leadership Texas and Leadership Southwest and a charter graduate of the Dallas Blueprint for Leadership.

Dorothy writes and teaches about faith, politics, leadership, power, and public life. Through writing, teaching, commentary, and civic education, she helps people understand how government works, how decisions are made, who holds power, and how those decisions affect ordinary people.

Her leadership work goes deeper than skills and strategy. She focuses on what she calls leadership formation, the human element of leadership: character, judgment, temperament, maturity, use of power, and how people experience us when we lead.

Her own understanding of leadership has been shaped not only by success, but by setbacks, mistakes, difficult seasons, public service, and the lessons God has taught her through all of it.

Dorothy believes conviction does not require contempt, and that people can disagree deeply without surrendering dignity, respect, or their humanity.

She is also the author of JESUS160:The Way He Led Will Change How We Lead, a leadership framework drawn from the life and teachings of Jesus and focused on the character, wisdom, courage, and humanity required to lead well.