Donna M. Davis

Donna M. Davis is a Professor of Educational Foundations in the School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), with over 30 years of experience including a decade teaching high school English in Los Angeles Unified School District. Her scholarship bridges historical analysis with contemporary educational justice movements.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Education/Foundations, University of Kansas

Her research centers on history and philosophy of education, urban education, social justice and arts education, gender and education, and race and schooling in the United States. She pioneers methods integrating documentary filmmaking and arts-based approaches to explore educational equity, particularly through the lens of African American experiences and pandemic impacts. Her work consistently connects historical educational thought to current crises like Black Lives Matter and COVID-19.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a trajectory from foundational historical scholarship toward urgent contemporary applications, emphasizing culturally relevant pedagogy during societal disruptions. She frequently employs collaborative and arts-integrated methodologies to examine urban education challenges.

Awards:

• Award for documentary film 'Class of COVID-19'

Dr. Davis advises graduate students in history of education, urban education, social justice and arts education, multicultural education, and gender studies. She has served as president of the Organization of Educational Historians (2020) and presented at major conferences including AERA and AESH. Her leadership extends to developing social justice advocacy frameworks for school administrators.

She produces documentary films as scholarly practice, notably 'Class of COVID-19' which captures frontline educational narratives during the pandemic, demonstrating her commitment to translating academic work into accessible public scholarship.