Doris Davis has a highly successful career, spanning over 37 years. Doris has worked in various educational settings including three Ivy League universities, two women’s colleges, and a public university. Doris worked for ten years as the Associate Provost for Admissions and Enrollment at Cornell University (New York) and for eleven years as the Dean of Admissions at Barnard College of Columbia University (New York). In addition, she was an Associate Director of Admissions at Yale University (Connecticut), and an Assistant Director of Admissions at Mills College (California) and at the University of Cincinnati (Ohio). Doris' international admissions experiences are extensive.
She has traveled to Asia every year for the past 30 years, and is deeply knowledgeable about the educational systems and secondary schools in the Pacific Rim. She is known for her expertise, integrity and commitment to excellence. Her international professional activities include serving as a consultant to the admissions office at Seoul National University; serving as an admissions presenter for the Hong Kong Education Department, and participating in the Ameson Foundation summer program for Chinese students in Shanghai and Nanjing.
For over 15 years, she served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Overseas Schools travelling to sub-Saharan Africa each year to provide information to students on applying for admission to U.S. colleges and universities. On the African continent, she has traveled to Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe.
Her career includes membership in the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the College Board, and the International Association for College Admission Counseling. She has served on several NACAC and College Board committees, including the College Board SAT Committee. She served as a faculty member for the NACAC Summer Institute for Secondary School Counselors and the College Board Summer Institute for International Admissions. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors for The Common Application, including serving as President of the Board of Directors.
She has also served on the Ameson Foundation Advisory Committee on University Admissions. Ameson is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that is committed to the promotion and implementation of educational exchanges in China and abroad.
Doris received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College and a Master of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also pursued Ph.D. studies in American History at the University of California at Berkeley.
Doris lives just outside New York City, and is a passionate sports fan of the NY Yankees and NY Knicks. She loves travelling the world, especially African safaris and food tours of Italy; she is also an avid gardener, nature lover and accomplished at-home chef.
Doris joined The LOFT's Board of Directors in 2019.