King Davis

King Davis is a Research Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work. He previously held academic and leadership roles at institutions including Virginia Commonwealth University, Howard University, University of Maine, Washington University in St. Louis, and Norfolk State University. His work focuses on mental health policy, urban services, and social justice.

• PhD in Social Policy and Management from Brandeis University (1971)
• Master’s and Bachelor’s in Social Work from California State University, Fresno

King Davis’s research emphasizes redesigning urban mental health systems and analyzing historical mental health services for African Americans. He has authored extensively on mental health, social policy, and fund raising, including the book The Color of Social Policy (2004).

• Excellence in Teaching Award (University of Texas at Austin, 2001)
• Benjamin Rush Award

As former Commissioner of Virginia’s Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services (1990–1994), he led statewide behavioral health care systems. He currently serves on the National Advisory Committee for the Center for Mental Health Services.