If left up to the newly installed president Dr. Christopher B. Davis, LeMoyne-Owens College, known as the best kept secret in Tennessee, will no longer have that distinction. photo by Don Mooney
by Don Mooney
Memphis, TN—HBCU LeMoyne-Owens College (LOC) approaches the 2024 fall semester with a new leader at the institutions helm – Dr. Christopher B. Davis. Previously while serving as interim Davis led visible rebranding at the nation’s 5th oldest and Memphis’ only Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Significant changes were made to staff, including filling key roles such as Chief Financial Officer and adding a Director of Campus Safety and Director of Grants and Strategic Initiatives. Davis has added Men’s Volleyball to the College’s sports palette. Put forth initiatives to revitalize existing campus facilities, most notably last seasons illuminant Bruce-Johnson Hall gymnasium.
Rev. Dr Christopher B. Davis recently addressing worshipers at St. Paul MBC in Memphis. photo by Don Mooney
AN EXTENSION OF HIS MINISTRY
Serving as a board member Davis viewed the opportunity to serve as an extension of his ministry. Yet Davis didn’t serve on the board to position himself to ascend to president of LOC. “I’ve always been interested in the upward mobility of folks that looked like me, and for me a key to my own sort of trajectory of upward mobility, if you will, was a college education. I saw this as an opportunity to make sure other individuals who looked like me, who came from a background similar to mine, were afforded the same opportunity I had been afforded, stated Davis. “And what better way to do that than to be part of sort of the governing board for the institution.”
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
When the past president left a void had to be filled. As a board member, and a few years of understanding the responsibilities of the position, the board had to name an interim prior to a potential national search being conducted. Davis felt like he was quite capable of doing it. According to Davis, “the question for me was, did my colleagues on the board feel like I was capable of doing it having served with me as a board member did they look across the table and see somebody they thought that could sort of steer the ship until some sort of permanent decision had been made.”
HUMBLY GROUNDED N’ ROOTED
A native of Proctor, AR you may wonder is Davis a Memphian? If you ask him…depends on what you need him to be. “You want me to be native-born or naturalized,” explains Davis. “If they say native-born I say I was born in John Gaston Memorial. You don’t get no mo Memphis than that. If you want me to be naturalized, I been here the last 25-years. I consider myself a Memphian with an unapologetic love for Arkansas.”
Davis projects an energy that captivates. An energy that has the pastor at St. Paul Baptist Church frequently invited around the country to speak. Raised by his paternal great-grandmother and grandparents Davis’ eyes blaze with pride about their inspiration and the indebtedness that drives him to this day. “I don’t even know what it is for folks to tell me I can’t do it! I can’t have it! I can’t be it!, shares Davis. Davis reflects on the people who loved on him when he was bussed to an all-white school in West Arkansas, AR. “I owe my grandparents! I owe Mrs. Lenora Bland who always told me you gon be something special. I owe the members of TVMBC on hwy 147 S. When I got ready to leave going off to college and they wrote me a $25 check, and you would have thought it was twenty-five thousand dollars and how proud they were to give me that check, shares Davis.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Dr. Davis viewing the campus from his office. photo by Don Mooney
Davis has simple goal-orientated expectations for students at LOC. In spite of statistical data pointing to average graduation times of five to 5 1/2-years, his students are encouraged to raise that bar at LOC. “What I’m saying to my students, when you’re first generation. When you come from backgrounds where it has taken sacrifice on the parts of family and extended family to get you here, and support you while you’re here…you don’t have 5 1/2 years,” points Davis. Davis gives his statistical analysis on why it’s economically critical that you make four year graduation your goal. “Each additional year, after those four years cost you about a $150,000 in terms of tuition, books and lodging to stay. Plus loss revenue for a job you could have been on.”
During these four years Davis sheds light on inspiring and preparing his students to make the four-year investment with market readiness and practical job experience. As with any higher educational institution that means opportunities. “We need to have done the work to make sure they’re career ready with internships, that they get exposed. That they get some clarity on what it is they want to do,” believes Davis.
Davis understands there is a part of the equation that falls outside the scope of the institutions control. “We can provide those opportunities and put them there, but I have to instill in the students the importance of taking advantage of those opportunities. Davis understands that without an internship, without practical experience and real skills, a baculerate degree is just a high school diploma with a star on it.
LeMoyne-Owens honoring senior athletes 2024. photo by Don Mooney
Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from both the University of Arkansas and Arkansas Baptist College. He holds a Master of Arts degree from Memphis Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree with emphasis on Preaching and Leadership from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Additionally, he has completed studies at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Presently, he is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Leadership from Anderson University.
Asked what the newly-seated President wants stamped to his legacy for LOC when his time is up Davis doesn’t hesitate. “I want LOC to be a school of choice in terms of when students start talking about what institution they’re going to attend, particularly those who go to school here in Memphis, I expect LOC to be in they’re fab-five. Even if we don’t get ’em all, I expect us to be in the fab-five, cheers Davis.”
Davis know understands the mission he has taken on as his tenure officially begins. A HBCU in the largest minority-majority city in the country, which is to be interpreted Black folk are the majority. The question begs how can 162-year old Black school, in a Black city, be considered the best kept secret in the city. “So my job is to make sure that people are saying, the secret is out!”