Jewelnel Davis papers, 1989-2019

Jewelnel Davis received an AB in Religious Studies from Brown University and an M.Div. and MSW in a joint program from Yale Divinity School and the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. Before joining Columbia, Davis had served as an Associate Pastor at the Black Church at Yale, Assistant University Chaplain at Colgate University, and College Chaplain at Carleton College.

Davis, a native New Yorker who was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Jamaica, Queens and Freeport, Long Island, returned to New York in July 1996. As the University Chaplain and Director of the Earl Hall Center, Davis oversees the spiritual, philanthropic and religious life of the University. She's "the first" in many ways: first woman, first Black and first Baptist Chaplain at Columbia. In fact, she is the first Black chaplain of any Ivy League school. Davis started the "Common Meals," where administrators and students would meet to find common ground. She opened Columbia to the surrounding communities, inviting Al Sharpton, Wyatt Walker and Calvin Butts to campus. She also oversees all recognized campus ministries, Community Impact, the largest community service program of the University, and many religious, political, social and cultural student groups. Since its inception in 2005, Davis has overseen the Kraft Family Fund for Interfaith and Intercultural Awareness. The Kraft Fund supports student and University programming that fosters open debate and civil discourse on a wide range of topics, including issues of race, religion and culture. Davis developed the Religious Life Advisors Program and redesigned the University Baccalaureate ceremony.