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We are a public good.
Every Davidson graduate becomes part of something bigger.
We better our world through
groundbreaking research
economic growth
respectful dialogue
& opportunity for all.
“The very act of creating a college that values freedom of expression, diverse viewpoints, and mutual respect is itself a public good, serving not only Davidson, but our wider society.
Douglas Hicks '90
President, Davidson College
More than three-quarters of Davidson College's students graduate with no debt.
That is possible because of the endowment funding to our financial aid and external funding, such as Pell Grants.
Each year, we draw
from our own funds
to cover 93% of financial aid.
Our endowment opens doors for students from low- and middle- income backgrounds. They earn degrees that lead to better jobs, higher earnings and greater social mobility.
Research that Matters
Davidson prepares graduates for real-world leadership roles through faculty-guided projects and individualized research, empowering them to become mentors for the next generation.
Izzie Meyers ’25
Finding the Cure to Autoimmune Diseases
Meyers has conducted impactful research on T cell development with the support of her mentors, preparing her to pursue a career as a physician-scientist dedicated to finding better treatments and cures for autoimmune diseases.
Kenan Wood ’25
Securing Transactions & Voting Systems
Wood’s mathematical and computer science research on digital financial systems and voting processes has earned him the Churchill Scholarship, which will allow him to continue his work ensuring a secure, stable and democratic society.
Jonathan Sheperd Smith ’18
Extending Davidson’s Resources to Charlotte
Committed to educational equity, Sheperd-Smith co-founded the DuBoisian World Scholars Society to support West Charlotte high school students to bridge learning gaps — providing tutoring, career advice and help with college applications and financial aid forms.
Mikayla Binter ’20
Charlotte Creator Fuels Global Partnerships
Charlotte-based artist, organizer and activist Binter has utilized her studies in the arts to create products for partners and businesses like Converse, Ally, TD Bank, Adobe, the Carolina Panthers, ACC, Sierra Nevada, the WNBA and the Charlotte Hornets.
Madeline Dierauf ’25
Building Cultural Bridges in Rural America
Dierauf's research in early American prison literature and her work as a musician show how preserving cultural heritage can build bridges between diverse communities and disciplines.
Andrew Ashur ’19
Industry-Leading Robotics
Having founded a company that uses robots to perform dangerous and labor-intensive tasks, creating safer working conditions and addressing the high turnover in the cleaning industry, Ashur has returned to Davidson’s Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to serve as a mentor to future Davidson innovators.
Prof. Julio Ramirez
Mentoring the Next Generation
Over 150 of Professor Ramirez's students have gone on to top institutions like Harvard and the National Institutes of Health, co-authoring research posters and scientific papers with him along the way.
Shaun Tyrance ’00
Mental Health in the NFL
As VP of Player Services and Assessment for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, Tyrance works to destigmatize mental health care and provide crucial support to athletes, drawing on his own past experiences as a college football player to help others navigate the intense pressures of the sport.
Prof. Michelle Kuchera
Modeling AI for Global Research
Professors Michelle Kuchera and Raghu Ramanujan mentor the ALPhA Program, a group of students who are using AI to analyze nuclear reactions. This research contributes to global efforts to understand the universe and develop new medical treatments and diagnostic methods.
James Crowe ’83
Preventing the Next Pandemic
Dr. James Crowe, Director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, has worked to develop rapid and effective antibody therapies for viral diseases, which protects against future pandemics and saves lives around the world.
Sallie Permar ’97
Vaccines, Pediatrics & Mentorship
By focusing on the prevention of neonatal viral infections like HIV and cytomegalovirus (CMV), Permar’s work protects the health of infants and leads to the development of new vaccines, while her mentorship of Davidson students helps to cultivate the next generation of healthcare workers.
Prof. Bassil El-Zaatari
Rethinking Plastics
Leading a research team of Davidson students, Professor Bassil El-Zaatari’s mentorship and research on polymers and plastics aim to solve the global problem of plastic waste, inspiring the next generation of scientists to create innovative solutions.
Davidson College boosts the
economy by more than
a year, according to a new study.
140,000 visitors to the area in a year, supporting $18 million in economic impact in the Charlotte and Lake Norman areas.
2,300 jobs supported statewide, including Davidson employees and jobs that rely on spending by the college and visitors.
“ Davidson is driving millions of dollars in salaries, taxes and spending that roll across the town, the region and the state.
Lee Huang
President of Econsult Solutions
Our alums make a difference.
Davidson alum Mary Tabb Mack ‘84 of Wells Fargo and Davidson parent Kieth Cockrell of Bank of America help lead economic growth in Charlotte.
Rooted in a tradition of healthy debate and civil discourse, Davidson College produces leaders who meet across differences and find mutual understanding in a polarized society.
“Politics can wear you down. Part of it is unnecessary in that maybe politics these days is too adversarial. At the same time, representative democracy is intended to provide a constructive way of resolving our differences and deciding on a path forward.
Grier Martin ’91
Former North Carolina Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs
Practicing Productive Discussion
The Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) provides Davidson students with opportunities to engage in genuine conversations and thoughtful exchanges of ideas.
Tradition Teaches Civil Debate
A long-standing election-year debate shows that Davidson students can provide what the nation’s political climate needs: the capacity to disagree and debate civilly and respectfully.
