John A. Davis

Professor John A. Davis came to LMU’s Sociology Department in 1978. Two years into his journey on the tenure track, LMU administrators asked him to design and construct an African American Studies Department. One of his major contributions to LMU was his establishment and careful cultivation of the Department of African American Studies for nearly three decades. For 26 years, Professor Davis chaired this ever-blossoming department, single-handedly increasing the percentage of Black faculty members by hiring in the department and working with other departments. Professor Davis earned a reputation as someone who could get things done and make everyone around him look good doing it. Furthermore, he created an intellectual outlet for those who conceived of Black people as more than a problem but rather a solution. Professor Davis' reputation spread beyond the bluff.  He remained closely tied to off-campus community organizations that sought to create access opportunities for Black youth. KCET, Los Angeles’ public television station named him “Unsung Hero of the Year” in 1986. Generations of students thank Professor Davis for providing an opportunity to flourish on their academic journeys. A sure sign of success in creating opportunities for the LMU community is the fact that Professor Davis’ grandchildren are attending LMU and will carry his legacy of racial and social justice in years to come.