Meet Kennedy Cotton, a business major at the UNT G. Brint Ryan College of Business.

Cotton is graduating this December and recently got accepted into the UNT MBA Cohort program.

She loves helping people realize their full potential, and even created interactive sessions for UNT students to learn about self-discovery. Her presentations are centered around having students imagine their ideal life and what it would take for them to attain their dreams.

“I wanted to give college students a glimpse into who they are and what they want to get out of the college experience,” said Cotton.​​​​​​​

So far, she has presented to more than 100 students at UNT and plans to continue inspiring others on their self-discovery journeys.

“If you don’t have your own dream you’re going to star in someone else’s… you don’t want to be an extra in someone else’s dream, you want to be the star of your own show,” she said.

Besides presenting to students, Cotton also works as a supplemental instruction leader for the learning center in Sage Hall, focusing primarily on financial accounting. She attends lectures and facilitates group study sessions for students to attend.

Cotton has also participated in several internships throughout her time in higher education. Most recently she worked in Stamford, Connecticut as an executive researcher in HR. She was also previously a quality analyst in Charlotte, North Carolina.

She says that working summer internships in different states has exposed her to different types of people and how they created success in their lives—and it has helped her understand what she wants her life to look like.

Cotton’s ultimate dream after finishing her degree is to open a charter school in underprivileged areas for disadvantaged children. She wants them to have the same opportunities as everyone else.

“Bright kids often go home to hostile environments. I want to give these kids the resources they need.”

Cotton says she wants her future school to have extra rooms, food, clothes, and supplies for any students or families that may need it.

Her dream was first inspired in 2019, working at a charter school in Tulsa, Oklahoma—and her deep love for education has only expanded since enrolling at UNT.

“I definitely want to thank UNT for being a welcoming and inviting space for all types of people. It’s helped me branch out and engage with so many people I never thought I could—motivating me to give back to my community.”

Cotton is excited to join the MBA program and work with a close-knit cohort as they grow and explore different industries together.

One thing that Cotton always says is “embody excellence and personify greatness.”

We here at the UNT Ryan College of Business are very excited to see the incredible things Cotton does in the future and we congratulate her on being accepted into our MBA Cohort program.​​​​​​​