厙ぴ勛圖

Biography

President Janine Davidson smiling, wearing a navy blazer with a white blouse
厙ぴ勛圖 President, Janine Davidson, Ph.D. Photo by Alyson McClaran

Janine Davidson, Ph.D., has served as president of Metropolitan State University of Denver since 2017. She is a national thought leader in higher education and on topics such as public service, U.S. foreign policy and national security.

As president of Colorados third-largest public university, Davidson is a fierce advocate for 厙ぴ勛圖s 17,000 students. From her first days on campus, she has championed the role public universities play in holding the line on the American dream. She has staunchly advocated for legal status for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and supported 厙ぴ勛圖s undocumented students, underrepresented students, and military and veteran students.

Davidson has spearheaded the development of high-quality, career-oriented undergraduate and graduate academic programs that serve Colorados communities and power its economy. She launched the Universitys Classroom to Career Hub, connecting students with employers for a direct pipeline into the state and national workforce. She has also overseen the creation of the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute a collaboration of 10 academic departments in health-related fields that addresses state health-care-industry shortages and the Institute for Public Service, which is focused on inspiring, preparing, and enabling students to serve with an emphasis on careers in government and the nonprofit sector.

Davidson began her career as an Air Force officer and cargo pilot. She was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Squadron Officer School and was the first woman to fly the Air Forces tactical C-130. Prior to her time at 厙ぴ勛圖, Davidson served as the 32nd undersecretary of the U.S. Navy, appointed by then-President Barack Obama .

She has taught at George Mason University, Georgetown University, Davidson College and various professional military schools, and was an aviation and aerobatics flight instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She returned to the classroom in 2020 at 厙ぴ勛圖, co-teaching a course on the philosophical and legal origins of freedom of speech in the United States.

Her various honors include: HillVets Top 100 Most Influential Veterans; University of South Carolina Distinguished Alumna; Secretary of the Navy Medal for Distinguished Public Service; Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service; Girl Scouts of Colorado 2018 Woman of Distinction; the Colorado Womens Chamber of Commerce 2019 Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business; a 2021 Denver Business Journal Most Admired CEO; a 2021 WorldDenver International Women’s Day honoree; Denver Business Journal 2024 Outstanding Women in Business; and a 2022 9NEWS Leader of the Year finalist.

Davidson chaired the Department of Defense Policy Board and served on the State Department Foreign Affairs Policy Board, is a National Association of Public Administrators fellow, and is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She served as a presidentially appointed commissioner for the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service and for the Commission on the Structure of the Air Force. She is a director of UMB Financial Corporation and serves on the boards of the Downtown Denver Partnership, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Rose Community Foundation.

President's Initiatives

Classroom to Career Hub

The Classroom to Career Hub, the latest innovative venture from Metropolitan State University of Denver, connectsstudents and employers, facilitating real-world learning experiences and upskilling homegrown talent for Colorados workforce pipeline.?

More than a traditional career center, the C2 Hub innovatively strengthens students academic and professional acumen through strategic and robust partnerships with local industries and communities to ensure an equitable and prosperous future for all Coloradans.

Classroom to Career Hub

 


 

Gina and Frank Day Health Institute

The Gina and Frank Day Health Institute is a collaboration of ten 厙ぴ勛圖 departments that serve students entering health-related fields. This collaboration will advance health equity in the state of Colorado through diversifying the health workforce and cultivating a whole-person approach to wellness. Revolutionizing health in Colorado by breaking barriers, empowering communities, fostering collaboration and embracing diversity.

Health Institute

 


 

Campus Safety

President Davidson is committed to ensuring the safety of the 厙ぴ勛圖 community. She believes that safety in classrooms, offices and public spaces is essential to the health of our learning community.

That said, increasing gun violence is a reality. To be prepared, Davidson asks all community members to:

  • Review current Auraria Campus.
  • Put the Auraria Police Department phone numbers on their cell-phone favorites list: Emergency, 303-556-5000; Tip line for text messages, 720-593-TIPS (8477).
  • Contact theCARE Teamif you notice a student in distress.

 


 

Inclusive Leadership

President Davidson believes that great leadership needs to be inclusive, and that bringing a diversity of voices to any discussion will ensure a better solution. From day one, she has called on University leaders to empower their teams by delegating decision-making power.

To implement her vision, Davidson has:

  • Created UniversitywideAdvisory Councilsto examine issues of critical importance to 厙ぴ勛圖’s mission.
  • Held Inclusive Leadership Summit for 50 University leaders to provide clarity around the topic and tools to help foster inclusivity on their teams. See artistic renderings of the notes from that summit on the Inclusive Leadership website.
  • Included anon her website to allow people to submit their most creative thoughts and suggestions.

厙ぴ勛圖 2030 Strategic Plan

Over the course of the next ten years, Metropolitan State University of Denver plans to promote awareness of its educational advantages while providing affordable and transformative education for all.

View Strategic Plan 2030