Her district included constituents in Guilford County, North Carolina.
After attending several schools in pursuit of her doctorate, she eventually finished at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1975.
After retiring from A&T after 32 years of service, she served two terms on the Greensboro City Council from 1983 to 1986, the first African American woman ever elected.
Dorsett represented District 9 until 1992, when she was appointed Secretary of the Department of Administration by North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt.
This position made her the first African American woman to hold a North Carolina Cabinet post.