“Pamela’s background as a distinguished leader in higher education and strategic planning will add a valuable voice to our work,” said Board Chair Minor Shaw. “Through her extensive community leadership, she has developed expertise in the opportunities and challenges that shape the Carolinas today. We know she will bring passion, commitment and wisdom to the Board.”
Davies served as the 20th president of Queens from 2002 to 2019. While in office, she led Queens through an institutional transformation from a liberal arts college to a thriving comprehensive university offering a full slate of liberal arts and professional programs. Undergraduate student enrollment doubled during her tenure, and her fund-raising efforts helped revitalize the campus and provide scholarship support for students.
Davies serves on the boards of Sonoco Products Inc. and the Cato Corporation. In addition, she is a member of the board of commissioners for Atrium Health and serves as chair of the national board of the YMCA. She was the first female chair of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte and she served on the executive committee of the Charlotte Chamber. In the academic realm, Davies served as president of the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities and as vice-chair of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. She holds the title of President Emerita at Queens University of Charlotte, where she also will serve as a professor of strategy in the McColl School of Business.
Davies was named the 2017 Charlotte Woman of the Year and has received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and the Order of the Hornet for her contributions to North Carolina, Charlotte and the Queens community.
Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed more than $4 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.