Royden B. Davis
Encyclopedia
Royden B. Davis, S.J. served as Dean of Georgetown College at Georgetown University
from 1966 to 1989.
Born in Ventnor City, New Jersey
, Davis served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945 as a gunner in an anti-aircraft battery. He earned a bachelor of science
degree in economics
in 1947 and a law degree in 1949 from Georgetown University. In 1950, he entered the Society of Jesus
at the Novitiate of Saint Isaac Jogues in Wernersville, Pennsylvania
. In 1955, he earned a master's degree
in political science
and a licentiate
in philosophy
from Saint Louis University
. He received a licentiate in theology
from Woodstock College
in 1960. Following a year of study in Belgium
, he returned to Georgetown University for additional graduate studies in government
from 1961 to 1965.
Ordained to the priesthood on June 21, 1959, by Archbishop Francis Patrick Keough, he pronounced his final vows in the Society of Jesus
on February 2, 1967.
Davis began his career at Georgetown University in 1965 when he was named dean of freshmen and assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1966, he was appointed dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, a post that he would hold until 1989.
In 1969, Davis welcomed the admission of the first women students to Georgetown's College of Arts and Sciences. He oversaw the inauguration of the American Studies Program, the expansion of the Fine Arts Department, the establishment and growth of the Psychology
Department, and the creation of the Sociology and Computer Science
departments.
In 1985, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Georgetown.
After retirement in 1989, he directed Georgetown's Foreign Studies Program in Florence
, Italy
and, in 1990, served as chair of a committee commemorating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Ignatius of Loyola
.
In 1991, Davis returned to the University of Scranton
, where he had taught briefly in the 1950s, to serve as rector
of the Jesuit Community at Scranton. In this role, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of The University of Scranton and Scranton Preparatory School
.
In 1992, he had an endowed chair in interdisciplinary studies at Georgetown named in his honor. The Royden B. Davis, S.J., College Chair was established through gifts of friends, alumni, parents and students, to allow distinguished individuals in the humanities, arts, sciences or social sciences to spend a semester's residence at Georgetown University.
At the conclusion of his service as rector in 1997, he remained at the University of Scranton as an associate campus minister and chaplain of the Panuska College of Professional Studies.
In 1997, the University of Scranton presented Davis with the Pedro Arrupe
, S.J., Award for Ignatian Mission and Ministries, which recognizes persons who have made significant contributions to the Ignation mission.
He died on April 2, 2002, and was buried on April 5 in the Jesuit Community cemetery on the campus of Georgetown University.
In 2005, Georgetown University dedicated the Royden B. Davis S.J. Performing Arts Center to his memory.http://performingarts.georgetown.edu/DAVIS/
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
from 1966 to 1989.
Born in Ventnor City, New Jersey
Ventnor City, New Jersey
Ventnor City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 10,650....
, Davis served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945 as a gunner in an anti-aircraft battery. He earned a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1947 and a law degree in 1949 from Georgetown University. In 1950, he entered the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
at the Novitiate of Saint Isaac Jogues in Wernersville, Pennsylvania
Wernersville, Pennsylvania
Wernersville is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,494 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Wernersville is located at .-History:...
. In 1955, he earned a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and a licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. He received a licentiate in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
from Woodstock College
Woodstock College
Woodstock College was a Jesuit seminary that existed from 1869 to 1974. It was the oldest Jesuit seminary in the United States. The school was located in Woodstock, Maryland, west of Baltimore, from its establishment until 1969, when it moved to New York City, where it operated in cooperation with...
in 1960. Following a year of study in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, he returned to Georgetown University for additional graduate studies in government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
from 1961 to 1965.
Ordained to the priesthood on June 21, 1959, by Archbishop Francis Patrick Keough, he pronounced his final vows in the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
on February 2, 1967.
Davis began his career at Georgetown University in 1965 when he was named dean of freshmen and assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1966, he was appointed dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, a post that he would hold until 1989.
In 1969, Davis welcomed the admission of the first women students to Georgetown's College of Arts and Sciences. He oversaw the inauguration of the American Studies Program, the expansion of the Fine Arts Department, the establishment and growth of the Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
Department, and the creation of the Sociology and Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
departments.
In 1985, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Georgetown.
After retirement in 1989, he directed Georgetown's Foreign Studies Program in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and, in 1990, served as chair of a committee commemorating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
.
In 1991, Davis returned to the University of Scranton
University of Scranton
The University of Scranton is a private, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit university, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the northeast region of the state. The school was founded in 1888 by Most Rev. William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. It was elevated to a...
, where he had taught briefly in the 1950s, to serve as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Jesuit Community at Scranton. In this role, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of The University of Scranton and Scranton Preparatory School
Scranton Preparatory School
Scranton Preparatory School is a Catholic and Jesuit college preparatory day school for boys and girls. The current enrollment is 860 students. Prep is fully accredited by the Pennsylvania State Department of Public Instruction and by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools...
.
In 1992, he had an endowed chair in interdisciplinary studies at Georgetown named in his honor. The Royden B. Davis, S.J., College Chair was established through gifts of friends, alumni, parents and students, to allow distinguished individuals in the humanities, arts, sciences or social sciences to spend a semester's residence at Georgetown University.
At the conclusion of his service as rector in 1997, he remained at the University of Scranton as an associate campus minister and chaplain of the Panuska College of Professional Studies.
In 1997, the University of Scranton presented Davis with the Pedro Arrupe
Pedro Arrupe
Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. was the twenty eighth Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was born in Bilbao, Spain.-Education and training:...
, S.J., Award for Ignatian Mission and Ministries, which recognizes persons who have made significant contributions to the Ignation mission.
He died on April 2, 2002, and was buried on April 5 in the Jesuit Community cemetery on the campus of Georgetown University.
In 2005, Georgetown University dedicated the Royden B. Davis S.J. Performing Arts Center to his memory.http://performingarts.georgetown.edu/DAVIS/