Dorothy Cotton, who is the former director of student activities at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and was with King in 1963 when he delivered his most famous speech at the historical "March on Washington." Noted for being a teacher, singer, lecturer, listener, workshop and seminar leader, facilitator, peacemaker and visionary, Cotton is considered to be a powerful speaker, who uses the "songs of the movement" to tell the story.

She has traveled extensively throughout the world, including the former Soviet Union, The People's Republic of China, Switzerland, Africa, Vietnam, and Europe, conducting and participating in international workshops and discussions on global issues.
From 1960-1972, Cotton was education director for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and later directed the Citizenship Education Program (CEP) designed to empower disenfranchised citizens, by developing local leadership in the South and promoting social change using nonviolent strategies.

Cotton also has served as the Vice President for Field Operations for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolence Social Change in Atlanta where she was a senior trainer in nonviolent and empowerment for leadership. Under former president Carter's administration, Cotton served from 1978 to 1981 as the Southeastern Regional Director of ACTION, the federal government's agency for volunteer programs.

Cotton served as a consultant to numerous organizations, corporations and schools on topics that address women's issues, race relations, nonviolence, multiculturalism/diversity, communication, personal and spiritual growth and human relations. She is currently a partner with Civic Organizing, Inc., which she initiated the National Citizenship School for the 21st century.
Among the numerous awards Cotton has received is an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of New England and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at Spelman College in Atlanta in 1999.