He earned his BS (organizational studies) and MHSA (health management and policy) at the University of Michigan, and his PhD (health services and policy analysis) at the University of California - Berkeley. He was also a participant in the UM SEP as an undergraduate. Before joining the UM faculty in 2016, he was the Assistant Dean of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Illinois - Chicago School of Public Health. Dr. Dotson's research focuses on "pipeline" programs (like UM SEP) that encourage young people of color to pursue health management careers. He also seeks ways to demonstrate that such programs to increase leadership diversity make sense from a business perspective. Dr. Dotson serves on the UM SPH Health Management and Policy Alumni board, and was also on the UM SEP Advisory Committee until he took over as Director in 2016.