Douglas Smith, MSSW, is a leadership development trainer, certified trauma-informed coach, and the author of The Path of Rocks and Thorns: Leadership Lessons from a Prison Cell.

He brings over a decade of experience in mental health and justice policy, having served as a policy expert at the Texas House of Representatives and later as a Senior Policy Analyst at the Texas Center for Justice and Equity. He also spent more than eight years as an adjunct professor of social policy at the University of Texas at Austin.

Doug specializes in helping individuals—and organizations—lead from a place of accountability, self-awareness, and integrity, with a focus on those who have experienced trauma, mental illness, addiction, or incarceration. His work centers on building trauma-informed leadership practices and supporting communities working to end the criminalization of people with mental health needs.

He holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin and earned his coaching certification through Erickson Coaching International with an emphasis in trauma-informed practice.

Doug’s approach is deeply shaped by personal experience. He has lived through mental illness, substance use disorder, and incarceration—and it is through these experiences that he discovered the leadership lessons at the heart of his work today.

He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, three adult children, and three rescue dogs.

Shelley MacAllister, LMSW, is a marketing and business strategist. She brings 25 years of experience spanning public health, nonprofit leadership, and community systems development.

Throughout most of her career, Shelley has worked at the macro and mezzo levels of social work. Shelley served as Senior Product Manager at the American Cancer Society, where she managed a national portfolio of public health programs and tools. In this role, she oversaw the product lifecycle, created and delivered training, and supported field staff across the country. At Unite Us, she built technology-powered networks with nonprofits and public agencies, excelling in engagement strategy, training and data-driven storytelling. She also deeply valued the recent opportunity to work directly with caregivers, supporting them as they navigated senior care decisions.

Guided by her core values of empathy, connection, and collaboration, Shelley is dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations grow with authenticity and impact. She is excited to focus full-time on D-Degree, where she has seen firsthand the transformational power of Doug’s leadership and message. Shelley feels honored to share this mission and inspire others to live and lead with courage and heart.

Outside of work, she is a proud wife, mom, and dog lover who enjoys keeping her garden alive, hiking in the mountains, and traveling to find cooler weather with her husband.

Connect with Shelley on LinkedIn