Courtney obtained her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Shawnee State University in 2010 with minors in criminology and social work. She continued her education at the University of Kentucky and received her Master’s in Social Work in 2013 when she also became a licensed social worker. Courtney recently finished her Doctorate in Social Work program from Capella University.

During her educational career, Courtney worked in mental health for five years providing therapy and counseling to individuals, families, and groups. She is an expert in crisis intervention and various styles of counseling including motivational interviewing. She taught sociology and psychology courses for three years before becoming a hospice social worker. She provided accessibility and mental health services at University of Rio Grande before becoming Assistant Professor of Social Work.

Courtney completed extensive research titled Effectiveness and Satisfaction with An Ohio Medicaid Health Home: A Participatory Evaluation Approach for her dissertation project. She has a passion for research especially in mental health treatment, decrease the stigmatization of mental health, and various other projects which focus on social equality. Courtney is a current member of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation Stakeholder group, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and National Organization for Women.