Academic titles

Use “Dr.” before a person’s name on first reference if the person has an M.D. or Ph.D. Using both is redundant, so instead clarify what kind of doctor they are in another fashion. Do not use “Dr.” in subsequent references, just the last name.

• Dr. Robin Murphy is a professor of engineering and an expert in disaster robotics. Murphy and her team members have been deployed to a number of disaster sites.
• Dr. Martha Dannenbaum, director of Student Health Services, is a board-certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology.

Capitalize titles before a person’s name, but not after.

• Professor of International Affairs Mary Clark led the lecture.
• Mary Clark, professor of international affairs, led the lecture.
• The professor led the lecture.
• John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System

Lowercase and spell out titles when not used with an individual’s name.

• The dean gave the Mays Business School communications staff the week off.

Very long titles are more readable when placed after a name, and are then not capitalized.

• Joe Aggie, chief financial officer and executive vice president for finance and administration, read the newspaper while drinking coffee.