About President Davis

President Michael Davis

Dr. Michael “Mike” Davis is the 27th President of Fairmont State University. Since he began his tenure as the University’s leader in July 2023, he has enhanced the vibrancy of our campus environment, led strategic planning to ensure a strong Fairmont State future, strengthened relationships with our constituents, and exercised our position as a regional public university to boost the prosperity of West Virginia communities.

One of President Davis’ goals is to create a more vibrant, highly residential campus experience to ensure that Fairmont State continues to evolve as a Great Place to Learn. To that end, he and Fairmont State have enhanced students’ academic and life experiences at Fairmont State, created new academic programs, launched The Soar Store, and supported new internship and externship opportunities.

Fun Facts!

Fact 1: Dr. Davis and his family have been to Walt Disney World nearly 25 times, walking right down the middle of Main Street U.S.A.
Fact 2: As a Syracuse grad, his favorite color is orange which oddly enough, looks great next to maroon!
Fact 3: After just a few more trips, Dr. Davis will be the first Fairmont State President to have traveled to an away game with each athletic team. Go Falcons!

He’s also working hard to strengthen our position as a Great Place to Work. He ordered a classification and compensation study, the results of which will help codify salary equity, and he instituted a minimum living wage. He’s restaffing sorely needed faculty and staff positions. He’s also added perks that make working at Fairmont State particularly pleasant, things like free parking, free use of recreational facilities, free tickets to athletic events, and increased professional development opportunities. Just as importantly, President Davis is working to make every employee feel valued and empowered. President Davis led the development of a dynamic Strategic Vision that will guide the University’s efforts over the next decade.

President Davis has also strengthened our relationship with Fairmont, North Central West Virginia, legislators, education, and business leaders, and communities across the state. He has worked hard to break down barriers between campus and the surrounding community, and has created on-campus programming to make visitors to campus feel welcome in our community, including movie nights, fairs, entertainment, and the Presidential Speaker Series. He’s worked closely with The Fairmont State Foundation (our fundraising organization) and under President Davis’ guidance, the Fairmont State University Day of Giving set fund-raising records in each of his first two years. 

President Davis and his family looking at sunflowers

He recently completed his mission to visit every county in the state. He believes that schools shouldn’t go into counties solely to recruit students—a university like Fairmont State has an obligation to help lift every county. In that way, we can do our part to ensure that West Virginia (and our little corner of it) is a Great Place to Call Home.

Other Facts!

Date of Birth: September 21, 1972
Whats your Sign? Virgo
Marvel or D.C? Marvel with an honorable mention for Superman

Prior to assuming the leadership role at Fairmont State, Dr. Davis was Chief of Staff at James Madison University (JMU). In that role, Dr. Davis managed JMU’s presidential priorities and directed matters of policy and institutional importance, including strategic planning, institutional research, and accreditation. He was also regularly involved in external relations, crisis management and strategic communication, alumni engagement and advancement, diversity and inclusion leadership, fundraising, and fiscal management.

President Davis earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Communication Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of Georgia. He also holds a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication and Rhetorical Studies from Syracuse University. His academic research interests center on women in the Civil Rights Movement, debate pedagogy, presidential rhetoric, and argumentation and advocacy.