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Janine Davidson, Ph.D.
ColoradoBiz Staff //December 2, 2025//
Janine Davidson, Ph.D., is president of Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she leads one of Colorado’s most diverse and workforce-focused institutions serving nearly 18,000 students annually. Since taking office in 2017, she has guided the university through transformational growth, advancing its mission of accessible, high-quality education that fuels Colorado’s economy and expands social mobility.
Under Davidson’s leadership, MSU Denver has achieved its strongest enrollment growth since 2013, nearly quadrupled its endowment and secured $50 million in new state funding. She has championed initiatives such as the university’s first-ever student housing facility, set to break ground in 2025, and the creation of the Day Health Institute and Affordable Housing Institute. Her focus on student success is evident in the expansion of Rowdy’s Corner, a grocery-style food pantry that has provided more than 35,000 pounds of food to students facing food insecurity.
Before joining MSU Denver, Davidson served as the 32nd undersecretary of the U.S. Navy and as deputy assistant secretary of defense for plans at the Pentagon. She also taught at George Mason University and served as an officer and senior pilot in the U.S. Air Force.
Her extensive board service includes the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Policy Board, the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board, and the boards of UMB Bank, the Downtown Denver Partnership and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Ruth Rohs, chair of the MSU Denver Foundation Board, said Davidson “transformed the university’s capacity to deliver on its mission,” calling her leadership “rooted in action, equity and results.”
