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Davis Named
Associate Dean of Arts and Letters David C. Davis has been named Associate Dean of Arts and Letters. Davis, Associate Professor of History, has taught at the College since 1988 and has received several awards recognizing his talents as a teacher and scholar in the area of African and Middle Eastern history. Davis was born in Nigeria to missionary parents from Mississippi, and he spent his first 16 years in Nigeria and Guinea. He observed first-hand the problems facing modern Africa, and he brings this knowledge to the classroom. In 1997, the Association of Third World Studies, the largest professional organization of its kind in the world, awarded Davis the Presidential Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Third World Studies. A noted lecturer, he is traveling this summer to the University of Nairobi to participate in a seminar on East Africa in transition. “David Davis has been singled out for praise as a teacher by his students at Millsaps and his peers here in the States and overseas,” says Richard Smith, Vice President and Dean of the College. “He has served admirably as Director of the Heritage Program, one of the crown jewels of the academic program, and I look forward to working with him as divisional dean. He is a real problem-solver, an innovative teacher, and a valuable resource because of his extensive international background. The College is fortunate to have him on its faculty.” “The fact that my colleagues look to me as a leader is a wonderful compliment,” says Davis. “Judy Page has provided momentum and cohesiveness to the division as dean, and I want to build on that while strengthening inter-divisional ties. The success of the science division in the Yucatan, for example, is to our benefit too – we are not competitors. “And within the division, I plan to encourage cross-listed courses, team teaching, and interdisciplinary study, such as our new American Studies concentration. I would like to see faculty development along these lines.” Davis is assuming the deanship due to the resignation of Professor of English Judith Page. Page is joining the faculty of the University of Florida, where her husband Bill was offered an endowed chair in the law school. “My years at Millsaps have been wonderful,” says Page. “I am especially grateful to my students and colleagues, with whom I will maintain my ties. “David is highly respected, and he will deal honestly and fairly with everyone, no matter how difficult the situation,” says Page. “He is also creative when it comes to thinking about the curriculum; his innovative work in Heritage has laid the groundwork for future interdisciplinary ventures.” Page has led the division of Arts and Letters with distinction for eight years and has worked tirelessly to advance both the division and the College. She has also directed the Core Curriculum and spearheaded successful campaigns to establish a lecture series in art, a writer-in-residence position, interdisciplinary studies programs, and performing arts facility upgrades. “Judy Page’s qualities as a dean, and as a person for that matter, are remarkable. She is wise, judicious, patient, warm, and selfless. She is the embodiment of the teacher-scholar. She meets problems head-on and knows how to make tough decisions without losing the respect of her colleagues,” states Dean Smith. “Her deanship has been marked by a collaborative spirit, which allows for a smooth transition from her stewardship to David Davis’s. We expect great things from David, but that does not assuage our sadness at losing Judy.” The three divisional deans report to the Vice President and Dean of the College and make recommendations concerning salary review, promotion and tenure, resource allocation, academic programs, and other matters. PREVIOUS PAGE | PAGE 1 OF 1 | NEXT PAGE |
