Frederick Corbet "Fred" Davison was the President of the University of Georgia in Athens. He served in that capacity from 1967 until his resignation in 1986.
Early life and education
Davison attended Oxford College of Emory University before transferring to UGA in 1948 to earn his veterinary degree from UGA in 1952. Dr. Davison met his wife, Dianne Castle, while in vet school. She also obtained her D.V.M from UGA in 1952. After receiving their veterinary degrees, Dianne and Fred Davison opened a veterinary practice in Fred Davison's hometown of Marietta, Georgia. In 1958, the Davisons went to Iowa State University where Fred earned his doctorate in Biochemistry and Pathology, and Dianne worked as a researcher. He then taught veterinary science at Iowa State University while also leading a U.S. Atomic Energy Commission research project on stable rare earth compounds.
Academic and professional career
Davison worked for the American Veterinary Medical Association as the assistant director of the Scientific Activities Division for a year before being named dean of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine in 1964. In 1966, he became vice chancellor of the University System of Georgia and the following year was named president of UGA. Davison served as president until his resignation in 1986 following a successful lawsuit against the University by UGA English teacher Dr. Jan Kemp. Kemp claimed that University administrators fired her in retaliation for protesting preferential treatment for athletes in UGA's developmental studies program. Following his retirement as president, Dr. Davison remained on the UGA veterinary faculty for two years. From 1988-2002, he served as president and chief executive officer of the National Science Center Foundation, Inc., in Augusta until his retirement in 2002. Dr. Davison also chaired the board of directors of Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness.
Creation of the Rusk Center for International and Comparative Law
Creation of the Rural Development Center, the Small Business Development Center, and the Center for Global Policy Studies
In the 1970s UGA ranked in five national surveys as one of the top 50 research institutions in the country.
Laid the foundation for the Life Sciences Building, a $32 million, structure that houses the genetics and biochemistry departments
At his retirement as UGA president, alumni and friends contributed about $900,000 to endow the Fred C. Davison Professorship, an endowed chair in the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine
The following buildings were opened on the UGA campus during Davison's tenure:
Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness annually awards the Fred C. Davison Distinguished Scientist Award to honor scientists or engineers from the Savannah River Site whose lifetime scientific contributions have been exceptional
American Veterinary Medical Foundation Honor Roll Member
