Faculty Profile
Olivia N. Davis CPA, MSA
Associate Director and Senior Lecturer
Olivia N. Davis, CPA, joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky in January of 2018. Prior to this, she was in public accounting with PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) in the assurance practice. As a CPA with nearly 14 years of experience, Professor Davis brings a wealth of experience to her classroom. She invites her students to go beyond just the technical accounting and auditing concepts by sharing real-world, current scenarios that help them understand the challenges that businesses face. Professor Davis also uses her extensive experience to help businesses design education solutions that increase growth and development opportunities for their employees.
Professor Davis serves as the faculty advisor for the UK Student Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and she is a professional member of NABA. In 2019, she founded the Gatton College’s FASTrack program for high school students and in 2021, Gatton Explore.
Professor Davis is a Certified Public Accountant and an active member of the accounting profession. She has been a professional member of NABA since 2005 and has served in a variety of leadership roles with the Greater Louisville Chapter including Treasurer, Vice President and Co-Chair of the Accounting Career Awareness Program at the University of Louisville. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Society of CPAs and is a member of the KYCPA Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Professor Davis also believes strongly in service to community in areas where one has both skills and passion. As such, she serves on various community boards including the Lexington Children's Museum (Chair, Vice Chair; Executive Director Search Committee Chair), Women Leading Kentucky (Finance Committee) and on the Board of Advisors for the Fund for Greater Lexington at Bluegrass Community Foundation. Prof. Davis has previously served as the Treasurer and Chair of the Board of Director for the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center, on the Baord of Directors for Providence Montessori School, as the Treasurer for Leeds Center for the Arts ,and as the Treasurer for the Sandersville Elementary School PTA. She also currently serves the Commonwealth of Kentucky on the Kentucky Board of Architects (Treasurer) and previously served on the board of Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority/Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation (Finance and Audit Committee Chair).
Professor Davis previously served as a University Faculty Senator and Senate Council Member and on numerous committees at the University and Gatton College Level. She was awarded the Gatton College Teaching Excellence Award in 2020, the 2021 Gatton College Faculty of the Year (student selected), 2021 University of Kentucky Provost's Award for Outstanding Teaching, 2022 University of Kentucky Alumni Association Great Teacher Award, and 2024 Beta Alpha Psi Faculty of the Year (student selected).
Contact Information
Department: AccountancyPhone: (859) 323-7517
Email: olivia.n.davis@uky.edu
Office: 423H
Personal Website
Education
MS Accounting, University of Kentucky, 2004
BS Accounting, University of Kentucky, 2003
Graduate Certificate College Teaching and Learning, University of Kentucky, 2024