Dr. Davis was appointed as the eighth President of South Carolina State University on April 10, 1996. Prior to this appointment, he served as Interim President (1995 to 1996), Vice President for Student Services (1993 to 1995), he was the Vice Provost for Academic Administration (1990 to 1993), and director of the Office of Institutional Self-Studies at South Carolina State University (1987 to 1990). In the latter capacity, he also served as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Self-Study Director.
Dr. Davis has spent most of his professional career at South Carolina State University where he advanced through the academic ranks to become full professor of Biology. He has worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory (1982) as a research associate and at the national Institutes of Health as an Extramural Associate (1981). He has published more than a dozen articles in general and technical journals.
He is very active with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has chaired many visiting committees, presented workshops and symposia, and served on special committees.
He holds memberships in numerous professional and civic organizations, including the American Council on Education, The American Association For the Advancement of Science, and Rotary International.
He also sits on a number of boards and commissions including the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Board of Trustees, the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Board of Directors, The S.C. Research Authority Board of Directors, and the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church Board of Trustees (Chairman).
Dr. Davis enjoys reading, jazz, and fishing. He is married to the former Christine McGill of Kingstree, South Carolina and they have two children, Tonya and Leroy, Jr.