Faculty and Staff Profiles

Davia Downey
Assoc Professor, School of Urban Affairs
Email: Davia.Downey@memphis.edu
Office Location: 202 Browning Hall

Work Experience
  • Director, PhD of Urban Affairs Program, School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy - University of Memphis - 2021-2025
  • Associate Professor, Public and Nonprofit Administration/School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy - University of Memphis - 2021-
  • Associate Professor , School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration - Grand Valley State University - 2017-2021
  • Assistant Professor, School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration - Grand Valley State University - 2011-2017

Teaching Experience
  • Survey of Advanced Quantitative Methods (UAPP 8014) - University of Memphis
  • Special Topics in Disaster Studies (PADM 7710/8710) - University of Memphis
  • Scope and Methods in Urban Affairs Research (UAPP 8011) - University of Memphis
  • Collaborative Urban Problem Solving I (UAPP 8012) - University of Memphis
  • Collaborative Urban Problem Solving II (UAPP 8013) - University of Memphis
  • Exploration of Urban Research and Theory (UAPP 8010) - University of Memphis
  • Public and Nonprofit Administration - Grand Valley State University
  • Local Politics and Administration - Grand Valley State University
  • Emergency Managment - Grand Valley State University
  • Comparative and International Administration - Grand Valley State University
  • Community Analysis - Grand Valley State University
  • Public Policy Research and Analysis - Grand Valley State University
  • Foundations of Public Service - Grand Valley State University
  • Minority Politics - Michigan State University
  • Bureaucracy in the Public Policy Process - Michigan State University
  • Urban Politics - Michigan State University
  • Public Policy Analysis - Michigan State University

Student Advising/Mentoring
  • PhD - Dorcas Young-Griffin - Expected 2027
  • PhD - Kenya Anderson - Expected 2027
  • PhD - Stephen Leonard Mensah - Expected 2026
  • PhD - Gordon Amankwaa - Expected 2026
  • PhD - Ang Liu (Rutgers University) - Expected 2025
  • PhD - Andrew Russo (Portland State University) - Completed 2025
  • PhD - Tamar Hofnug (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) - Completed 2020

Creative Activities
  • Media Interview: Census and Redistricting - August 2021 - NPR Marketplace -  
  • Media Interview: Pandemic Politics - April 2020 - Huffington Post -  
  • Media Interview: Pandemic Preparation - March 2020 - Dallas Morning News -  
  • Media Interview: Regional Strategies and Disaster Planning - May 2020 - WGVU -  
  • Media Interview: Gerrymandering - May 2019 - WUOM -  
  • Media Podcast: Cities in Crisis - March 2019 - Scholars Strategy Network -  
  • News Commentary: Cities in Crisis - November 2018 - The Washington Post -  

Support
  • Institute for Humane Studies - George Mason University - 5000 - 2024
  • Michigan Applied Public Policy Research Grant - Institute for Public Policy and Social Research - 5000 - 2016
  • REI Technical Assistance Grant - Michigan State University - 2500 - 2013
  • Faculty Research Grant - University of Memphis College of Arts and Sciences - 5000 - Summer 2023
  • Community of Research Scholars Grant - University of Memphis - 2500 - 2021-2022
  • Russel G. Mawby Fellowship in Philanthropic Studies - Grand Valley State University/Johnson Center for Philanthropy - 5000 - 2017
  • Dissimination Grant - Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (GVSU) - 500 - 2019
  • Dissemination Grant - Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (GVSU) - 500 - 2018
  • Dissemination Grant - Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (GVSU) - 500 - 2017
  • Dissemination Grant - Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (GVSU) - 500 - 2016
  • Dissemination Grant - Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (GVSU) - 500 - 2015
  • Dissemination Grant - Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (GVSU) - 500 - 2014
  • Dissemination Grant - Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (GVSU) - 500 - 2013
  • Travel Grant - Faculty Teaching and Learning Center (GVSU) - 500 - 2012
  • Dissertation Completion Fellowship - Michigan State University Graduate School - 3000 - 2010
Service
  • University of Memphis - Willard R. Sparks Eminent Faculty Award Committee - 2024-2027
  • University of Memphis - College of Engineering Chair Search Committee - 2024
  • University of Memphis - CAS Faculty Research Grant Award Review Committee - 2023-2024
  • University of Memphis - AADCRA & CASDRA Award Committee - 2023-2025
  • University of Memphis - CAS Dean's Strategic Planning Goal Three Working Group - 2023-2024
  • University of Memphis - PADM Fundraising Committee - 2023-2024
  • University of Memphis - Political Science Assistant Professor Search Committee - 2023-2024
  • University of Memphis - PADM Tenure Review Committee - 2022-2023
  • University of Memphis - PLAN Faculty Search Committee - 2022-2023
  • University of Memphis - Early Career Research Award Committee - 2022-2023
  • University of Memphis - Urban Affairs Advisory Committee - 2021-
  • Grand Valley State University - MPA Graduate Program Committee - 2014-2021
  • Grand Valley State University - External Relations Committee - 2016-2021
  • Grand Valley State University - Inclusion Advocate - 2017-2021
  • Grand Valley State University - Human Rights Advisory Council - 2020-2021
  • Grand Valley State University - College Personnel Committee - 2020-2021
  • American Political Science Association - Secretary/Treasurer: Urban and Local Section - 2023-2026
  • American Political Science Association - E.E. Schattschneider Dissertation Award Committee - 2023
  • Urban Affairs Association and Journal of Urban Afffairs - Scholar Development Editor - 2021-2025
  • American Political Science Association - Daniel Elazar Distinguished Federalism Scholar Award Committee - 2021-2022
  • American Political Science Association - APSA Mentoring Program - 2021
  • American Political Science Association - Byran Jackson Dissertation Research Award Committee - 2021-2022
  • Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs - Associate Editor - 2021-2023
  • American Political Science Association - Co-Chair, Urban and Local Politics Section - 2020-2021
  • Scholars Strategy Network - State Co-Chair - 2019-2021
  • Count MI Vote - Board Member - 2018-2021
  • Urban Affairs Association - Alma H. Young Emerging Scholars Award Committee - 2018-2020
  • Voters Not Politicians - Board Member - 2017-2020
  • City of East Lansing - Housing Commissioner - 2013-2019
  • American Society of Public Administrators-Capital Area Chapter - Secretary and Board Member - 2010-2017
Consulting
  • America's Best Communities - 2014-2017
Books Published

  • “Local Governments at Court: A Flaw in the Design of American Federalism (tentative title)" with William M. Myers (University of Tampa). Under contract. Temple University Press.

  • Downey, D. C. (2021). Disasters and Economic Recovery. London: Routledge Publishing
  • Downey, D. C. (Ed.). (2015). Cities and Disasters, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
  • "Civic Culture in Ottawa: The Endurance of Local Culture" in Comparative Civic Culture, Eds. LA Reese and RA Rosenfeld (2012). London: Ashgate Publishing. Book Chapter.
Books Reviewed
  • Book Review of Obama on the Home Front: Domestic Policy Triumphs and Setbacks by John D. Graham. Public Administration Review, vol. 67, 6: 804-804. (December 2017).
  • Book Review of There Is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster: Race Class and Hurricane Katrina by Chester Harman and Gregory D. Spires. American Review of Public Administration Vol. 39, No. 5, pp. 570-573, (September 2009).
Journal Articles

  • Myers, W.M. & Downey, D.C.(2025) "Municipal Governments at Court" in Publius: The Journal of Federalism.

  • Downey, D.C. & Myers, W.M. (2024) “The Impact of Tort Reform Liability Shields During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Hyper-Preemption in the States” in Metropolitics.

  • Downey, D. C., & Myers, W. (2024). Effective Communication in Times of Crisis: The case of face mask mandates in the United States. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 32, e12522. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5973.12522

  • Downey, D.C., Wehde, W., & Harris, K.* (2023). A Pedagogical Exploration of Horror as a Teaching Tool for Ethics Using the Case of Saw IV, Public Integrity, doi:10.1080/10999922.2023.2278861

  • Myers, William M., and Davia C. Downey. 2023. “ Face Mask Mandates: Unilateral Authority and Gubernatorial Leadership in US States.” Law & Policy 45(3): 353–372. https://doi.org/10.1111/lapo.12229

  • Gerber-Chavez, L., Montano, S., Savitt, A., Corbin, T., & Downey, D. (2023). Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Funding Allocations and Relevance for U.S. Disaster Policy. Accepted at Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy
  • Wehde, W. & Downey D.C. (2022). Review of Saw IV: Extreme Violence, Ethics, and Street-Level Bureaucracy. Public Integrity.
  • Myers, W. M. & Downey, D. C. (2021). Covid-19 Policy Executive (In)Action in Florida and Michigan. Wayne State Law Review, 67(1).
  • Downey, D. C., & Myers, W. M. (2020). Federalism, Intergovernmental Relationships, and Emergency Response: A Comparison of Australia and the United States. The American Review of Public Administration. https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074020941696.

  • Reckhow, S., Downey, D., & Sapotichne, J. (2020). Governing Without Government: Nonprofit Governance in Detroit and Flint. Urban Affairs Review, 56(5), 1472-1502. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078087419847531

  • Blackmond Larnell, T., & Downey, D. C. (2019). Tax Increment Financing in Chicago: The Perplexing Relationship Between Blight, Race, and Property Values. Economic Development Quarterly, 33(4), 316–330. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891242419877944
  • Making the Economic Development Process Accessible to Students. Urban Affairs Review, Urban Affairs Forum. (November 2, 2018).
  • Reckhow, Sarah; Downey, Davia; and Sapotichne, Joshua, “Governing Without Government: Nonprofit Governance in Detroit and Flint” (October 26, 2018). Available at Social Science Research Network: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3273190
  • Myers, William M. & Downey, D.C. (2017) “Which Governments Come Out Ahead?” Perspectives on Federalism, 9(1), 13-33.
  • Downey, D. C. & Reese, L. A. (2017) “Sudden Versus Slow Death of Cities: New Orleans and Detroit.” DuBois Review: Social Science Research on Race, 4(1), 219- 243.
  • Downey, D. C. (2016) “Disaster Recovery in Black and White: A Comparison of New Orleans and Gulfport.” The American Review of Public Administration, vol. 46(1), 51-74
  • Gentrification.” In Linwood H. Cousins and Geoffrey J. Golson (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Human Services and Diversity. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications (September 2014)
  • “Ethnocentrism.” In Linwood H. Cousins and Geoffrey J. Golson (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Human Services and Diversity. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications (September 2014)
  • “Environmental Racism.” In Linwood H. Cousins and Geoffrey J. Golson (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Human Services and Diversity. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications (September 2014)
  • “Ethnocentrism”. In Routledge Companion to Race and Ethnicity, ed. Stephen M. Caliendo and Charlton McIlwain. New York: Routledge, (December 2010).
  • Cox, D. S. & Reese, L. A. (2007) “Local Culture and Governmental Change: Exploring the Endurance of Culture in the Face of Structural Change.” Canadian Public Administration, 50(2), 245-27.
Presentations

  • “Impact of the 14th Amendment on Local Litigation in Front of the Supreme Court (with Dr. William Myers)” Paper presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting (Philadelphia, PA, September 2024).

  • "Political and Economic Trajectories of Majority Black Cities: A Comparison of Detroit, Michigan and Memphis, Tennessee"  with Dorcas Young-Griffin (University of Memphis), Laura Reese (Michigan State University), and Gary Sands (Wayne State University). Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Association Annual Meeting, April 2024.

  • “Local Governments at the Supreme Court” with William Myers (University of Tampa). Paper presented at the American Political Science Annual Meeting (Los Angeles, CA, September 2023)

  • “State Instability, Violence and the Ethics of Saw IV: A Pedagogical Exploration of Horror as a Teaching Tool” with Wesley Wehde (Texas Tech University) and Kelli Davis (University of Memphis). Paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting (St. Petersburg Beach, FL, January 2023)
  • “Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Funds: Allocations and Relevance for U.S. Disaster Policy” with Tanya Corbin (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University). Paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting (St. Petersburg Beach, FL, January 2023)
  • “The Role of Urban Protest in Responsive Policymaking.” Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Association Annual Meeting (Washington, D.C., April 2022).
  • “A Linguistic Analysis of Reopening Plans: The United States and Australia” Paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting (Virtual, January 2021).
  • “When Cities Go to Court: A Test of Party Capability Theory” Paper presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting (Virtual/San Francisco, CA, September 2020).
  • “Local Governments and Party Capability Theory: Who Wins and Why?” Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Association Annual Meeting (Los Angeles, CA April 2019).
  • “Local Governments and Party Capability Theory: Who Wins and Why?” with William Myers (University of Tampa). Paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting (Austin, TX, January 2019).
  • “David and Goliath? Party Capability Theory and Local Governments” with William Myers (University of Tampa). Paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting (New Orleans, LA January 2018)
  • “Governing Without Government: Nonprofit Governance in Flint, Detroit and New Orleans” with Sarah Reckhow (Michigan State University). Paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting (New Orleans, LA January 2018)
  • “Unnatural Disasters: Can Nonprofit Governance Promote Recovery in Detroit and Flint?” with Sarah Reckhow (Michigan State University). Paper presented at the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action Annual Meeting (Grand Rapids, MI November 2017)
  • “Where the Action Is: Party Capability and Conflict in Federal Systems” with William Myers (University of Tampa). Paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting (New Orleans, LA January 2017)
  • “Which Governments Come Out Ahead? with William Myers (University of Tampa). Paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting (San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 2016)
  • “The Problem with TIFs: Engineering Blight in Wealthy Communities” with Twyla BlackmondLarnell (Loyola University of Chicago. Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Association Meeting (San Diego, CA, March 2016)
  • “How Do Voluntary Neighborhood Associations Vary? A Study of Programmatic Activities and Economic Vitality in Grand Rapids, Michigan” Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Association Meeting (Miami, FL, April 2015)
  • “Sudden Versus Slow Death of Cities: New Orleans and Detroit” with Laura A. Reese (Michigan State University) Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Association Meeting (San Antonio, TX, March 2014)
  • “Preparing the Non-profit Sector for Change: The Budget Control Act of 2011” with E. Miles Wilson (Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University) Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Association Meeting (San Francisco, CA, April 2013)
  • “Disaster Recovery in Black and White: A Comparison of New Orleans and Gulfport.” Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Association Meeting (Pittsburgh, PA, April 2012)
  • “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Is Intensive Investment Enough in the Wake of Disaster?” Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Association Annual Meeting (New Orleans, LA, March 2011)
  • “Race, Class and Recovery: Louisiana Under Water?” Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Meeting (Chicago, IL, April 2010)
  • “Beyond New Orleans: Economic Recovery, Class and Race in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina.” Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Association Annual Meeting (Chicago, IL, March 2009)
  • “Wade in the Water: Race, Local Government and Hurricane Katrina.” Paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting (New Orleans, LA, January 2009)
  • “The Emerging Policy Role of Faith-Based Organizations in the Low-Income Housing Market.” with Drs. Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore and Richard Hula. Paper presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting (Chicago, IL, August 2007)
  • “Natural Disasters, Local Economic Development, and the Chocolate City.” with Dr. Laura A. Reese. Paper presented at the American Society of Public Administration Annual Meeting (Washington D.C., March 2007)
  • “Local Civic Culture: A Comparison of Citizen and Elite Attitudes.” with Drs. Laura A. Reese and Raymond Rosenfeld. Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting (Chicago, IL, April 2006)
  • “Arts in Education: A Program Analysis.” presented at the Eastern Michigan University Graduate Research Fair (Ypsilanti, MI, March 2005)
  • “Equity in Public Administration” 2021. Invited presentation for the Spring Graduate Colloquium at Northern Illinois University.
  • “Redistricting Reform and Grassroots Level Advocacy” 2020. Invited presentation for the Chicagoland Scholars Strategy Network chapter.
  • "Governing without Government: Nonprofit Governance in Detroit and Flint '' 2019. Invited presentation for the University of Pittsburgh Center for Social & Urban Research Brown Bag Lecture Series.
  • “Montcalm County Business Incubator” 2014. Webinar presentation for the University Center for Regional Economic Innovation. Partially funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration through Michigan State University’s Center for Community and Economic Development.

Appendix A - Teaching Experience
  • UAPP 8014 - Survey of Quantitative Methods
  • UAPP 8010 - Exploration of Urban Research and Theory
  • UAPP 8012 - Collaborative Urban Problem Soliving I
  • UAPP 8013 - Collaborative Urban Problem Solving II
  • UAPP 8012 - Collaborative Urban Problem Solving Studio I
  • UAPP 8013 - Collaborative Urban Problem Solving Studio II
  • UAPP 8010 - Exploration of Urban Research and Theory
  • UAPP 8011 - Scope and Methods for Urban Affairs Research