Davidson to be UF’s Visiting Executive for Nov. 6 Lecture
Former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson will serve as The University of Findlay’s visiting executive on Nov. 6 at a community lecture sponsored by the Colleges of Business and Liberal Arts.
The free event will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Old Main’s Ritz Auditorium.
In 1995, Davidson, a Findlay native who served on The University of Findlay Board of Trustees, was the first woman to be elected Ohio House speaker. During her tenure, she guided many important legislative initiatives through the Ohio General Assembly, including welfare reform, electric deregulation and criminal justice reform.
Davidson also served for 20 years in the Ohio General Assembly, and has extensive private sector experience. Prior to 1994, she was the Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s vice president of special programs.
Davidson holds an honorary degree in government leadership from The University of Findlay. She also holds honorary doctor of law degrees from The Ohio State University and from Capital University, and an honorary doctor of public administration degree from The Ohio State University. She also currently serves as a trustee of Franklin University and is a former trustee of The Ohio State University.
From 2005 to 2009 she was the co-chair of the Republican National Committee.
Currently, Davidson is performing consulting work that ranges from strategic planning to political campaigns with the firm she formed, JAD and Associates.