Page 67 - UB Church and Shen Univ
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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
2. Dr. James A. Davis46: 26 Years of Growth, Education, and Service—1982-200847
a. Introduction to the College/Conservatory (Early 1980s)
One evening in the fall of 1981, Jim Wilkins, Sr., called my home in Ferrum, Va., to
inquire if I would be interested in the Presidency at Shenandoah College and Conservatory
of Music. I was polite but let him know that I was happy as Dean of Ferrum College and
member of the General Assembly in the Commonwealth. My wife overheard the
conversation and requested that I explore the option more carefully; therefore, I called back
to say we would enjoy a visit and opportunity to see the institution and talk about the
possibilities. This call started a 6-month journey that led to an offer being made by the Search
Committee and Board of Trustees to succeed Dr. Robert Parker, who had announced his retirement as
President. In the process of making the offer, faculty members on the Search Committee broke
confidentiality and made the offer public before Janet and I were able to make a final decision. Press
reports indicated that faculty and staff members were not happy with the decision and questioned if I
were the right candidate for the position. After careful deliberation, we decided that the move to
Winchester was the right thing for us to do at that point in time and that we believed we could work with
all parties to establish trust and confidence in our leadership.
Our first introduction to the City and the college/conservatory officially was to speak to the
Thursday-night banquet for 1982 Apple Blossom Festivities with more than 400 of the leading citizens
46 James A. (Jim) Davis retired as 15th President of Shenandoah University in 2008 after 26 years of service as President of
the institution. He joined a higher education search firm and worked for 3 years doing approximately 10 searches for
presidents, vice-presidents, and deans at private and public colleges and universities, including presidents of Claremont
Graduate University, Greensboro College, Bethel College, Doane College, Olivet College, Brevard College, Methodist
University; Dean of Health Sciences and Dean of Arts and Letters at Old Dominion University, and Vice-President of
Academic Affairs at Emory and Henry College. During his career as President of Shenandoah University, he served in
executive leadership roles in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and chaired more than 20 reaffirmation
committees. He served as president of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, president of NASCUMC, the
United Methodist association of presidents, board member of NAICU, CIC, and was a member of the University Senate
of the United Methodist Church. Dr. Davis also chaired the EIIA Insurance consortium for 130 colleges and universities.
Among his professional work, he was Senior Vice-President, Academic Dean, Division Chairman and a tenured faculty
member at Ferrum College. Dr. Davis holds the Associate in Arts Degree from Ferrum College, Bachelor of Arts degree
in history at Randolph-Macon College, Master of Arts degree from Virginia Tech in history, and Ph.D. from Florida
State University in higher education administration. He has been awarded honorary degrees from Bridgewater College,
Randolph Macon College, Ulyanovsk State University (Russia), Kuyshu University of Health Sciences (Japan),
Tokashima Bunri University (Japan). Dr. Davis has travelled extensively in more than 30 countries establishing
international relationships with colleges and universities. He served in many lay leadership roles in the United Methodist
Church and as a member of many boards and agencies. His master’s thesis, 51st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers, was
published in 1970 and stayed in circulation for more than 30 years. He recently published a small volume entitled, Rules
of Civility for the Modern Society, and it has more than 20,000 copies in circulation. More than 30 years ago, Dr. Davis
served three terms in the House of Delegates of the Virginia General Assembly. He has used this experience to assist
many colleges and universities and higher education groups. He has subsequently been appointed by four different
governors of the Commonwealth to state boards and agencies and recently served on the Commonwealth Transportation
Board. He has served on the boards of the Durell Foundation and Datatel Foundation. He has led United Way
campaigns, been a board director of Public Television, Senior Member of Rotary International, Chairman of the Board of
Westminster-Canterbury Retirement Community, and board member of the Winchester Medical Center. He is currently
a Director of National Fruit Products Company and First Bank. He is married to Janet Copple Davis, and they have three
grown children and nine grandchildren. [http://www.agbsearch.com/consultants/james-davis]
47 Dr. James A. Davis, President Emeritus, Shenandoah University. “Shenandoah University: The Years 1983 to 2008,”
Draft dated July 2010. Used by permission of the author. jdavis@agbsearch.com.
Davis on History of S.C., 1982-2008 57
2. Dr. James A. Davis46: 26 Years of Growth, Education, and Service—1982-200847
a. Introduction to the College/Conservatory (Early 1980s)
One evening in the fall of 1981, Jim Wilkins, Sr., called my home in Ferrum, Va., to
inquire if I would be interested in the Presidency at Shenandoah College and Conservatory
of Music. I was polite but let him know that I was happy as Dean of Ferrum College and
member of the General Assembly in the Commonwealth. My wife overheard the
conversation and requested that I explore the option more carefully; therefore, I called back
to say we would enjoy a visit and opportunity to see the institution and talk about the
possibilities. This call started a 6-month journey that led to an offer being made by the Search
Committee and Board of Trustees to succeed Dr. Robert Parker, who had announced his retirement as
President. In the process of making the offer, faculty members on the Search Committee broke
confidentiality and made the offer public before Janet and I were able to make a final decision. Press
reports indicated that faculty and staff members were not happy with the decision and questioned if I
were the right candidate for the position. After careful deliberation, we decided that the move to
Winchester was the right thing for us to do at that point in time and that we believed we could work with
all parties to establish trust and confidence in our leadership.
Our first introduction to the City and the college/conservatory officially was to speak to the
Thursday-night banquet for 1982 Apple Blossom Festivities with more than 400 of the leading citizens
46 James A. (Jim) Davis retired as 15th President of Shenandoah University in 2008 after 26 years of service as President of
the institution. He joined a higher education search firm and worked for 3 years doing approximately 10 searches for
presidents, vice-presidents, and deans at private and public colleges and universities, including presidents of Claremont
Graduate University, Greensboro College, Bethel College, Doane College, Olivet College, Brevard College, Methodist
University; Dean of Health Sciences and Dean of Arts and Letters at Old Dominion University, and Vice-President of
Academic Affairs at Emory and Henry College. During his career as President of Shenandoah University, he served in
executive leadership roles in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and chaired more than 20 reaffirmation
committees. He served as president of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, president of NASCUMC, the
United Methodist association of presidents, board member of NAICU, CIC, and was a member of the University Senate
of the United Methodist Church. Dr. Davis also chaired the EIIA Insurance consortium for 130 colleges and universities.
Among his professional work, he was Senior Vice-President, Academic Dean, Division Chairman and a tenured faculty
member at Ferrum College. Dr. Davis holds the Associate in Arts Degree from Ferrum College, Bachelor of Arts degree
in history at Randolph-Macon College, Master of Arts degree from Virginia Tech in history, and Ph.D. from Florida
State University in higher education administration. He has been awarded honorary degrees from Bridgewater College,
Randolph Macon College, Ulyanovsk State University (Russia), Kuyshu University of Health Sciences (Japan),
Tokashima Bunri University (Japan). Dr. Davis has travelled extensively in more than 30 countries establishing
international relationships with colleges and universities. He served in many lay leadership roles in the United Methodist
Church and as a member of many boards and agencies. His master’s thesis, 51st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers, was
published in 1970 and stayed in circulation for more than 30 years. He recently published a small volume entitled, Rules
of Civility for the Modern Society, and it has more than 20,000 copies in circulation. More than 30 years ago, Dr. Davis
served three terms in the House of Delegates of the Virginia General Assembly. He has used this experience to assist
many colleges and universities and higher education groups. He has subsequently been appointed by four different
governors of the Commonwealth to state boards and agencies and recently served on the Commonwealth Transportation
Board. He has served on the boards of the Durell Foundation and Datatel Foundation. He has led United Way
campaigns, been a board director of Public Television, Senior Member of Rotary International, Chairman of the Board of
Westminster-Canterbury Retirement Community, and board member of the Winchester Medical Center. He is currently
a Director of National Fruit Products Company and First Bank. He is married to Janet Copple Davis, and they have three
grown children and nine grandchildren. [http://www.agbsearch.com/consultants/james-davis]
47 Dr. James A. Davis, President Emeritus, Shenandoah University. “Shenandoah University: The Years 1983 to 2008,”
Draft dated July 2010. Used by permission of the author. jdavis@agbsearch.com.
Davis on History of S.C., 1982-2008 57
