At Large – Dr. Oliver Davis

Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis began his new term as an At-Large Councilmember on the South Bend Common Council on January 1, 2024. Previously, Dr. Oliver Davis served 12 years, three consecutive terms on the South Bend Common Council as the 6^th District Councilmember, after first being elected in 2007. Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis works hard to represent the people of South Bend and to speak out on issues, helping to empower the lives of the people of South Bend. 

To serve the citizens of South Bend is one of Oliver’s greatest honors. Throughout his first tenure on the Common Council, Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis worked to see the 6th District grow and revive as a strong economic region for the City of South Bend. With the rapid growth of businesses in the Ignition Park area, Lippert Components Inc. relocating to the former A.J. Wright building on Sample Street, the addition of the Martin’s Super Market on Mayflower Road, and the improvements to the Rum Village and Walker Field Park areas, the Southwest side of the City of South Bend continues to gain strength. Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis supported and advocated for the Pokagon Tribal Council’s development, greatly re-energizing the Southwest Side of South Bend.

“On behalf of the Pokagon Tribal Council, and all Pokagon citizens, we’d like to thank the BIA, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former and active South Bend Common Council members, Councilman Oliver Davis, members of the Michiana Pokagon Alliance, and all of the local citizens and organizations that have supported us during this lengthy process,” said John P. Warren, former chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.”

Dr. Oliver Davis has a distinguished career in public service and education. His tenure on the South Bend Common Council includes serving as President and Vice President and being a member of the TRANSPO Board and the Michiana Area Council of Governments, known as MACOG. Currently, he chairs the Zoning & Annexation Committee, is Vice Chair of the Health & Public Safety Committee and serves on multiple other committees including PARC – Venues Parks and Arts, Public Works & Property Vacation, and Utilities. Dr. Davis also serves as a Commissioner on the South Bend Plan Commission.

Dr. Davis earned his Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work. He completed a Professional Certificate in Management from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and a Professional Certificate in Political Social Work from the University of Michigan. He earned his Master of Social Work degree from The Ohio State University and his Bachelor of Social Work degree from Oakwood University. Additionally, he completed a summer internship at the University of Maryland-College Park in the Family Studies Department.

Dr. Davis is the third child and only son born to life-time educators Drs. Oliver (Sr.) and the late Ruth Davis of Huntsville, AL. He has two lovely daughters: Starr and Kailyn Davis and a sweet chocolate Black Lab named Pepper Davis. In his free time, Dr. Davis loves to cook, travel, and watch football. His is also a lover of history, particularly the history of the Presidents of the United States and the Civil Rights Movement.

Council Member Dr. Davis believes “How we walk with the broken speaks louder than how we sit with the great!”