Biography

Dr. Larry E. Davis is the Dean of the Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, where he is the Donald M. Henderson Professor and also the Director of the Center on Race and Social Problems. Dr. Davis came to the University of Pittsburgh in the fall of 2001 from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., where he was a professor of social work and psychology and held the E. Desmond Lee Chair in Ethnic and Racial Diversity.

Dr. Davis received his PhD from the University of Michigan’s dual-degree program in social work and psychology in 1977. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University and a master's in social work and a master's in psychology from the University of Michigan.

His professional interests include interracial group dynamics, the impact of race, gender, and class on interpersonal interactions, African American family formation, and youth.

Selected Publications

ARTICLES

Davis, Larry E.  Prologue: Race and Social Problems (2009), l, 1, pp.1-2

Vaughn, M. G., Wallace, J., Davis, L. E., Fernandes, G., & Howard, M. O., (2008) Variations in mental health problems, substance use and delinquency between African-American and White juvenile offenders: Implications for reentry services. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 52(3), pp. 311-329.

Davis, Larry E., Wallace, J. and Shanks, T. (2008) Overview on African Americans, Encyclopedia  of Social Work, 20^th Edition, NASW Press/Oxford University Press, p. 65-75.

Mizrahi, T. and Davis, L.E., Editors-in-Chief (2008) Encyclopedia of Social Work, 20^th Edition, NASW Press/Oxford University Press.

Davis, Larry E. and Bangs, R. (2007) The Center on Race and Social Problems at the University of Pittsburgh, Journal on Research on Social Work Practice,  17,(5), pp.  632-634.

Williams, J.H. Davis, L.E. Johnson, S. Williams, T. Saunders, J. & Nebbit, V.  (2007) Substance Use and Academic Performance Among African American High School Students, Social Work Research,  31(3), 151-161.

Scott, L.D., Jr.,  Davis, L.E. (2006) Young, black, and male in foster care:  Relationship of social contextual experiences to factors relevant to mental health service delivery, Journal of Adolescence, 29(5), 721-736.

Jonson-Reid, M., Davis, L., Saunders, J., Williams, T., & Williams, J.H.  (2005) Academic Self-Efficacy Among African  American Youth: Implications for School Social Work Practice, Children & Schools,  27(1), 5-14.

 

BOOKS

Davis, Larry E. & Engel, Rafael, Measuring Race and Ethnicity, Springer Publishers (2011).   

Bangs, R., Ricci, E. , Davis, L.E. Racial Disparity in Mental Health

Services: Why Race Still Matters, The Haworth Press, Inc. (in press)

Davis, Larry E.:  Black and Single: Finding and Choosing a Partner Who’s Right for You.  Ballantine Books.  Chicago, Ill (1^st. edition, 1993, 2^nd. edition, 1998, 3^rd edition, 2003)

Davis, Larry E.: Working with African American Males: A Guide to Practice (Ed.) Sage, 1999 Newbury Park, California.

Stiffman, A., and Davis, L.E.:  Ethnic Issues in Adolescent Mental Health. Sage, 1990, Newbury Park, California, (Eds.).

Davis, Larry E., and Proctor, E.K: Race, Gender and Class:  Guidelines for Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups.  Prentice-Hall, 1989, Englewood Cliff, New Jersey.

Saunders, J. Davis, L., Williams, T., Williams, J.H. (2004) Gender Differences in Self

Perceptions on Academic  Outcomes: A Study of African- American High School Students, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 33(1), pp.81-90.

Selected Funded Grants

He has received research funding from sources such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, and the National Institute of Mental Health.