Courtney R. Davis, J.D., M.A., A.L.M.

Courtney Davis serves as Dean of the School of the Arts and Executive Director of the UVU Museum of Art at Utah Valley University. Since joining UVU in 2007 as a full-time faculty member in Art History, she has provided leadership as an educator, scholar, administrator, and advocate for the arts. She previously served as Chair of the Department of Art & Design from 2017–2021 and co-developed UVU’s Art History program. A three-time recipient of the UVU Alumni Outstanding Educator of the Year Award for the School of the Arts and a two-time recipient of the Faculty Senate Award of Excellence, Davis is also the founder of the department’s biennial Art History Symposium, established in 2010. She holds a Master of Arts in Art History and Curatorial Studies and a Juris Doctor from Brigham Young University, as well as a Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies, with a concentration in Museum Studies, from Harvard University Extension School. Her award-winning capstone, "Providing Refuge: The Art Museum as a Place for Healing in the Aftermath of Violence," was recognized with the Dean's Prize for Best Capstone in Museum Studies. Prior to her academic career, Davis practiced law as an associate attorney with a Provo-based law firm. Her scholarship includes publications in nineteenth-century art, arts management, and copyright law.

As Dean and Executive Director, Davis provides strategic leadership for academic programs, student success initiatives, community engagement, and cultural programming across the School of the Arts and the UVU Museum of Art. She has championed efforts to expand access to arts education, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, enhance recruitment and retention, and build meaningful partnerships with donors, community organizations, and industry leaders. Under her leadership, the School of the Arts continues to advance its vision of fostering creativity, innovation, and professional preparation while positioning the arts as a vital contributor to the educational, cultural, and economic vitality of the region. Her current priorities include expanding experiential learning opportunities, strengthening pathways to student success, supporting faculty excellence, and increasing the visibility and impact of the arts throughout Utah and beyond.