Allison Doby

Salisbury Academy, Director of Admissions
Part-time Teacher of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Native of Rowan County

Industry: Education

Allison Doby was born in Rowan County and went away to college, but she and her husband chose to return here to live, work, and raise their family — Cate, 6, and Myers, 3, and rescue dog Drew. 

“I have everything I need right here,” she says. “Our small-town feel with big-city offerings makes for a wonderful place to raise a family. I have seen first-hand that when people move to Rowan County, they become invested and work to make it even better.”

She is drawn to the people of Rowan County and their generosity, as well as to the progressive county as a whole. “The people of Rowan County are deeply invested in this place,” she says. “Over many generations, Rowan has developed a strong culture of giving that has shone through in recent community efforts supporting our local colleges as well as Bell Tower Green and the Wallace Cancer Institute at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center. The state-of-the-art Cancer Institute combines all cancer services into a single location. The community raised $12 million for the building, matched by Novant, for a total of $24 million. She calls people in Rowan “outrageously generous and always looking for ways to improve this place we call home.”

The community also raised $12 million for the Bell Tower Green Park and Allison says it is a family favorite. “It’s a great way to bring the community together,” she says. She loves the location, in a downtown block facing three churches with their programs for children and the public library. The play spaces for children are unique and a big open area gives kids room to run and be themselves, she says. 

A Progressive Community

She finds it comforting that the community is progressive and willing to make changes, as needed. “I like that feel,” she says. Rowan’s progressiveness fits with the county image, Be an Original.™ 

When she thinks of the county’s originality, “the first words that come to mind are progress and innovation,” she says. “The Rowan County community continues to adapt to new circumstances and conceive of unique ways to improve itself.”

Allison serves on the Rowan County Literacy Council board and Partners In Learning Board of Directors. Partners in Learning is a premier childcare and community impact organization that works for the needs of all families in the community. “I’m always willing to help out when needed,” she says.

She and husband, Mark, an attorney with Wallace and Graham, like Sidewalk Deli as a favorite restaurant for its atmosphere, food, especially the specials, and phenomenal desserts. 

Dragon Boat Competition

Allison’s favorite event is the Dragon Boat Festival, a Rowan County Chamber of Commerce event held on High Rock Lake, where teams from various companies compete. She likes the competition, seeing all the employers participate, and the groups working together. 

She has served as a docent for the annual OctoberTour of historic homes and says it is also a favorite because it brings so many people into Rowan County to see the architecture and interior designs of some of Salisbury’s beautiful homes.

For first-time visitors to the area, she recommends exploring downtown Salisbury with its local shops, eateries, and Bell Tower Green Park. “There’s something for everyone,” she says.