Donald W. Davis Program in Ethical Leadership
The Donald W. Davis Program in Ethical Leadership was made possible through the generous support of alumnus Donald W. Davis Jr. ('42 Journ), who established the program to honor the memory of his father, former Penn State professor Donald W. Davis Sr.
The program is intended perpetuate the ideals of ethics in advertising that Davis Sr. maintained throughout his professional and academic careers. The elder Davis established the University’s advertising program in 1936. He also published his Basic Text in Advertising, which emphasized the “continuing fight for standards,” and exemplified his approach to advertising.
Patrick Lee Plaisance
Don Davis Professor
128 Carnegie Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3800
plp22@psu.edu
Upcoming
October 11, 2024
"The Space of the World: Can Human Solidarity (And Ethics) Survive Social Media and What If It Can’t?"
Nick Couldry, London School of Economics
Location: Flex Theatre, HUB-Robeson Center
Keynote lecture as part of "Challenges to Digital Media Flourishing" Symposium, presented by the David Program in Ethical Leadership. Speaker NIck Couldry is a professor of media, communications and social theory in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics whose work also has spanned media ethics and journalism studies. The symposium is sponsored by the Bellisario College, the Arthur W. Page Center for Public Integrity, and the Rock Ethics Institute.
October 10, 2024
"In a Mirror, Dimly: Why AI Can’t Tell Our Stories, and Why We Must"
Shannon Vallour, University of Edinburgh
Location: Flex Theater, HUB-Robeson Center
Keynote lecture as part of "Challenges to Digital Media Flourishing" Symposium, presented by the David Program in Ethical Leadership. Speaker Shnnoan Vallour is the Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh Futures Institute, and she is a former AI ethicist at Google. The symposium is sponsored by the Bellisario College, the Arthur W. Page Center for Public Integrity, and the Rock Ethics Institute.
Previous Lectures
October 31, 2023
"Nothing Cures Health Inequity Quite Like Creativity"
Michelle Tucker
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
Location: 60 Willard Building
Annual Davis Lecture in Advertising Ethics, presented by Michelle Tucker, executive vice president, executive creative director, US creative health lead at Edelman. The session is free and open to the public.
October 07, 2022
"Civility in the Post-Truth Age: An Aristotelian Account”
Maria Silvia Vaccarezza
Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Location: Flex Theater, HUB-Robeson Center
Maria Silvia Vaccarezza of the University of Genoa will present a talk as part of the Media Challenges to Digital Flourishing symposium presented by the Donald W. Davis Program in Ethical Leadership.
October 06, 2022
“The Relational Turn: An Ethics for the 21st Century and Beyond”
David Gunkel
Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Location: Flex Theater, HUB-Robeson Center
David Gunkel of Northern Illinois University will present a talk as part of the Media Challenges to Digital Flourishing symposium presented by the Donald W. Davis Program in Ethical Leadership.
November 03, 2021
"Social Responsibility in the Creative World"
Bianca Guimaraes
Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
Bianca Guimaraes, an Emmy Award-winning creative advertising director based in New York City who has been named one of the "30 Most Creative People in Advertising Under 30” four times, will present the 2021 Davis Lecture in Advertising Ethics. Guimaraes will make her presentation remotely. The session is free and open to the public.
March 19, 2018
“You’ve Got the Power: Personal Accountability in the Advertising Industry”
Kendra Hatcher King
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Kern Auditorium (112 Kern Building)
Free public lecture featuring Kendra Hatcher King, vice president of account planning for Razorfish. A 20-year industry veteran, King works with a group of business and development leaders in the Atlanta region. Her work has featured brand development and media strategies for clients including Bridgestone, Coca-Cola, Kellogg's and Russell Athletic.
April 05, 2016
"What Do You Stand For? And, Does It Really Matter?
Pamela Divinsky
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Freeman Auditorium, HUB-Robeson Center
Free public lecture by Pamela Divinsky whose company works with organizations to define what they stand for and develops "stand strategies" that strengthen their business, fortify their reputational equity, cultivate loyalty and ambassadorship, and drive material social impact. The event is conducted under the auspices of the Davis Symposium in Advertising Ethics, conducted annually by the Department of Advertising/Public Relations at Penn State.
February 17, 2015
"Penn State Values, the Real World & You"
Linda Yaccarino, NBCUniversal
Time: 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Nittany Lion Inn
The Don Davis Lecture in Advertising Ethics presents: "Honor, Integrity, Responsibility: Penn State Values, the Real World & You" -- a free public lecture by Linda Yacccarino, president of NBC/Universal advertising sales. Yaccarino ('85) will speak on the values she learned at Penn State and how they have served her during her life and career. A great kick-off to THON, Yaccarino will address students, faculty and the Penn State community. Questions? Contact Patrick Parsons, the Don Davis Professor of Ethics in the College of Communications by email (pp6@psu.edu) or phone (814-863-5678).
March 27, 2014
"Big Data -- Big Responsibilities"
Stephen Loudermilk
Time: 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Kern Auditorium (112 Kern Building)
Stephen Loudermilk, director of media and industry analyst relations for LexisNexis, will present a free public lecture, focusing on corporate social responsibility and big data.