Dr. Joy Lawson Davis is a career educator with a distinguished record of scholarship in the field of Gifted and Advanced Learner programming. Her specific expertise is diversity, access and equity in programming for students from underrepresented populations and culturally diverse students with multiple exceptionalities. Dr. Davis is a highly sought out speaker, professional learning trainer, and consultant to school districts and organizations across the United States, the Middle East, South Africa and the Caribbean, sharing more than 100 presentations at professional conferences during her career with her message of equity and excellence in education. Dr. Davis is also an adjunct professor at Bridges Graduate School for Cognitive Diversity in California and Johns Hopkins University, School of Education in Maryland teaching graduate coursework in cultural diversity and gifted education and a consultant for special projects at the Johns Hopkins CTY programs.
Dr. Davis is also an award-winning author; publishing numerous articles, newsletters, and reports. She is the author of six books, her most recent books include Bright Talented & Black: A guide for Families of Black gifted learners 2.0”; “Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students: Perspectives from the Field” and “Culturally Responsive Teaching in Gifted Education: Building Cultural Competence and Serving Diverse populations”. Davis served for five years on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Children and is on the editorial board for Gifted Child Today and on the Board of Trustees for The Roeper School in Michigan. Dr. Davis also served for five years as the State Specialist for K-12 gifted programming in Virginia. As one of the nation’s premier experts in gifted education, Dr. Davis is frequently called upon for interviews, podcasts, to serve on expert panels and Advisory Councils to advocate for increased equity in gifted education services. Davis is the recipient of the 2022 Honorary Member of the Colorado Academy of Educators of the Gifted; 2020 New Jersey Hall of Fame Award from the NJ Association for Gifted Children; the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted; and the 2019 Alexinia Baldwin Special Populations Award from the National Association for Gifted Children.