Jeanette R. Davidson, Ph. D., ACSW, professor in the Clara Luper Department of African and African American Studies at the University of Oklahoma, has been selected by the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education as one of 25 outstanding women in higher education. This annual special report, published in honor of Women’s History Month, recognizes this year’s class of leading women for their contributions and leadership in academia.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Davidson as a member of our faculty,” said OU President David L. Boren. “The university community is extremely proud of the recognition which she has received and richly deserves.”

The women highlighted in this edition of Diverse have made a difference in society by tackling some of higher education’s toughest challenges, exhibiting extraordinary leadership skills and making a difference in their respective communities. 

“I am honored to be recognized alongside this esteemed group of phenomenal women,” said Davidson. “These are challenging times that require us to continue our efforts for a fair, inclusive and intellectually honest academy. As I look at the women selected by Diverse I am in awe of their contributions to education and social justice in universities and communities across the country, and am proud to be included with them.”

Davidson previously served as director of the African and African American Studies Program in the OU College of Arts and Sciences for 15 years before returning to the classroom as a professor of the program. She has published extensively in the areas of black studies and on race and competency in social work practice and education, and is currently writing a book titled “Black Lives in Scotland: Telling Our Stories.”

Davidson is a member of the board of directors of the National Council for Black Studies and the executive board of the Southwest Center for Human Relations in Education.

She is an affiliate faculty member of the annual Summer School on Black Europe in Amsterdam and is a fellow of the Molefi Kete Asante Institute in Philadelphia. 

Davidson was born and raised in Scotland, where she received her bachelor’s in English literature with honors from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow before moving to the United States to earn her master’s and doctoral degrees in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Prior to her 20 years of teaching at OU, Davidson taught at Columbia University’s School of Social Work.

Diverse’s complete list of 25 outstanding women in higher education may be found at the following link.