Title Page & Abstract

An Interview with Suzanne Davis

Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

Tumultuous 2020 Oral History project

Interview # T20-A-L-2021-043

Suzanne Davis, president of Greenville University, was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Tumultuous 2020 Oral History project.

Interview dates & location:

Date: September 24, 2021                 

Location: Greenville, Illinois                        

Interview Format: Digital audio

Interviewer: Philip Pogue, ALPL volunteer

Total Time: 1:07 / 1.12 hrs.

Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on November 9, 2021.

The interview is archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.

© 2021 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

Abstract

Dr. Suzanne Davis, Tumultuous 2020,   T20-A-L-2021-043

Biographical Information Overview of Interview: Suzanne Davis was born in Terre Haute, Indiana in January 1978. Davis grew up in Casey, Illinois, and graduated from Casey-Westfield High School in 1996. She then attended Greenville College, now a university, where she competed in volleyball and track. At Greenville, Suzanne earned a B.A. in history and political science, as well as a B.A. in philosophy and religion in May of 2000. Davis continued her studies at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, earning an MBA and later a Juris Doctorate. Her work experience includes practicing law in east central Illinois, and teaching business at Eastern Illinois University before returning to work at Greenville University. At Greenville, Davis taught business, served as chief of staff, became the first dean of the business college, worked as the vice president for university relations, and became executive vice president. She later was appointed acting president and in January of 2021, Davis became the 13th president of the university and its first female president.

Over the course of the interview, Davis discusses how Greenville University functioned from March 2020 through September 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. She goes into depth on the partnership between Greenville University and the University of Illinois through the use of a saliva test. This allowed Greenville University to operate with in-person classes during the 2020-2021 academic year. Davis also describes the challenges of shutting down in March of 2020 and the difficulties it provided students, especially international and out-of-state students. Moreover, adjusting to remote learning, changing Illinois Department of Public Health regulations, enrollment challenges, and financial support also proved to be difficult. Davis goes into detail about the variety of programs offered at Greenville University for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Subject Headings/Key Words: Greenville University during COVID-19 pandemic; remote learning; impact of the pandemic on universities; financial impact of COVID-19; Illinois Department of Public Health

Note to the Reader: Readers of the oral history memoir should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word, and that the interviewer, interviewee and editor sought to preserve the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein. We leave these for the reader to judge.

COPYRIGHT

 The following material can be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.  “Fair use” criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials are not to be deposited in other repositories, nor used for resale or commercial purposes without the authorization from the Audio-Visual Curator at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701.  Telephone (217) 785-7955