Roderick J. McDavis

Dr. Roderick J. McDavis
McDavis speaks in Ohio University's Baker University Center (May 2009)
Born	(1948-10-17) October 17, 1948 (age 68) Dayton, Ohio
Nationality	United States
Fields	Public Service
Institutions	Ohio University University of Florida University of Arkansas Virginia Commonwealth University
Alma mater	Ohio University
Known for	President of Ohio University
Website Official site

Roderick J. McDavis, Ph.D., (born October 17, 1948) is the former 20th President of Ohio University, located in Athens, Ohio. McDavis has more than 35 years of service in higher education, including roles as both a professor and an academic administrator.

One of three sons, along with his brother Frederick, McDavis was one of Joseph and Mabel McDavis' twin boys, and grew up in Dayton, Ohio, before beginning his academic career as an undergraduate at Ohio University and earning a B.A. He was a runner on the men's varsity track team. He later completed an M.A. degree at the University of Dayton and a Ph.D. degree at the University of Toledo, both in the field of higher education. He was a professor of education in the Department of Counselor Education at the University of Florida from 1974–1989 and an associate dean of the graduate school and minority programs at the same university from 1984–1989. He served as dean of the College of Education and professor of counselor education at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, from 1989–1994 and as director of the Arkansas Academy for Leadership Training and School-Based Management from 1992–1994. He was dean of the College of Education and professor of education at the University of Florida from 1994–1999.

McDavis subsequently served as provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of education at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., from 1999–2004.

McDavis became the 20th president of The Ohio University on July 1, 2004. He is the first Ohioan of African ancestry and only the second alumnus to lead Ohio University as president. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.