Stephanie Davis

Stephanie D. Davis, Ph.D., is a collegiate associate professor at Virginia Tech and the program director for three graduate certificates including the graduate certificate in local government management, graduate certificate in nonprofit and nongovernmental organizational management, and the graduate certificate in public and nonprofit financial management.  She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in public budgeting, local government financial managementand local government management. 

Prior to her position with Virginia Tech, Dr. Davis served in Virginia local government for 20 years as a Finance, Human Resources, and IT Director, budget and management analyst, and as Vice President/Consultant for a national consulting firm.  She served from 2018 to 2023 on the Commission on Local Government for the Commonwealth of Virginia.  She also served as a2021 International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Local Government Research Fellow and developed a manager’s manual on strategic planning in small communities.  Dr. Davis frequently presents to regional, state, and national organizations on local government, strategic planning, and local government finance.

Dr. Davis holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, a Master of Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics.  Go Hokies!

Courses Taught: Public Budgeting and Their Policy Implication, Budgeting for Outcomes and Performance Management, Leadership, Service and Public Problem Solving, Policy Implementation, Human Resources, Finance and Performance Management in Local Government

Areas of Expertise:

• Public Budgeting
• Capacity Building in Small Communities
• Strategic Planning
• Local Government Financial Management