College of Veterinary Medicine > William B. Davis

William B. Davis

  1. Professor
  2. Vice Provost, Academic Excellence & Student Achievement
Email Addresswbdavis@wsu.edu
LocationFrench Administration 436
Phone509-335-4930

Biography

Bill Davis is the Vice Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Achievement and a Professor of Biochemistry/Biophysics. For eight years he was the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Bill joined the faculty of the School of Molecular Biosciences in 2001, and from 2007-2019 he was the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies in the School. Bill’s research interests focus on the impacts of classroom and laboratory pedagogy on student learning outcomes in large enrollment freshman classes, including the large enrollment Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics course that he taught every semester between 2014 and 2021. He also is active in developing innovative programs that lead to the transformation of both individual faculty and departments/institutions engaged in life sciences education, work facilitated by his efforts as a PULSE Vision & Change Leadership Fellow and a Facilitator for the PKAL STEM Leadership Institute.

Education

  • PhD, Northwestern University, 1999
  • MS, Northwestern University, 1995
  • BA, Drury College, 1994

Research Interest

  • Argumentation in large enrollment classrooms and its impact on student learning outcomes
  • Role that Faculty Mindsets play in student learning outcomes
  • Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on College Educational Outcomes
  • Systems Thinking and Departmental/Organizational Change in Higher Education

Publications

Professional Service

  • Member, AAC&U Project Kaleidoscope Steering Committee, 2016-present
  • Session Co-Chair, AAC&U/PKAL Summer STEM Leadership Institute, 2017-present
  • Facilitator, National Institute on Scientific Teaching Mobile Summer Institutes, 2014-present
  • Leadership Fellow in PULSE (Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education), established by NIH, NSF, and HHMI, September 2012-present

Honors and Awards

  • WSU Office of Distinguished Scholarships Ambassador Award, 2020
  • Elected as a Member of the Consortium of West Region Colleges of Veterinary Medicine Regional Teaching Academy, 2014
  • Finalist for the Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award, Faculty Category, WSU, 2013
  • Award for Excellence in Faculty Teaching, School of Molecular Biosciences, WSU, 2013
  • Member, Provost’s Leadership Academy, 2012-2013
  • Award for Excellence in Faculty Service, School of Molecular Biosciences, WSU, 2011
  • Award for Excellence in Faculty Advising, School of Molecular Biosciences, WSU, 2009