Dr. DeAndrea Davis recently transitioned into the Director of the Lalani Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise role and received the Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship title. Prior to working at Midwestern State University, she was the Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager at United Regional Hospital.

Dr. Davis has over 24 years of investment banking experience and was formerly the director of wealth management at Northwestern Mutual. Before joining Northwestern Mutual, she worked for Wells Fargo, and her career path was highlighted in their corporate annual report.

She currently sits on various boards to include the chair of the finance committee for Work Services Corporation. Dr. Davis holds several investment licensures and professional certifications, including Certified Financial Planner® and RICP®. Her research interests include strategic leadership, employee engagement, job crafting, employee self-determination, and business accountability.

Dr. Davis' research was accepted for oral presentation at the Academy of Management's Annual Meeting Program in 2023. The Annual Meeting is the world's premier event for scholarly engagement and the largest gathering of management and organization scholars worldwide.  Additionally, Dr. Davis was recognized by the Global Intrapreneur Institute as the recipient of a 2023 Outstanding Intrapreneur Award in the Education sector stemming from her research.

She enjoys traveling and running in her free time and has participated in various marathons globally. Admittedly, the New York City Marathon is her favorite. Dr. Davis considers herself a perpetually curious person and a citizen of the world. She is the daughter of a New Yorker and a Jamaican who grew up in "sunny" East London.

Fun Facts:

• I love coffee
• I have visited over 40 countries
• I swim with whale sharks
• I've run marathons in NYC, Rome, and Cuba
• I speak Italian
• I am a published photographer
• I am a classical pianist

Of course I am serious! (but only sometimes)