Robert “Bert” Davis
President and CEO, America’s Black Holocaust Museum
Dr. Robert (Bert) Davis is the President and CEO of the America’s Black Holocaust Museum. Dr. Davis brings an extensive background in nonprofit museum management, education, and fundraising to the AAAM Board. Most recently, he was Principal of the nonprofit strategic consulting firm DRMD Strategies, LLC and former President and CEO to two Iowa organizations: the Dubuque County Historical Society and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. He is also the former President and CEO of the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. During his tenure there, Dr. Davis secured a $6.7 million donation, the largest foundation gift the Society had received to date. Prior to the Zoological Society, Dr. Davis was Vice President of Education for Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo. His previous leadership roles also include Vice President of Education at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Director of Education and External Affairs at Zoo Atlanta, and he was the first African American to serve as a Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park Department of Animal Health in Washington, DC.
Dr. Davis has served on a variety of professional boards and committees, the most recent of which include: American Alliance of Museums Board of Directors – Vice Chair (2018), Member (2013-2017); Association of Zoos and Aquariums Ethics Board – (2011-2014); Tuskegee Veterinary Alumni Executive Board of Directors – (Vice Chair 2018), Member (2006-present); and Milwaukee Area Technical College Board of Directors – Vice Chair (2009-2010), Member (2007- 2008)
Dr. Davis has been featured in numerous journals, books and press articles including: Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, Telegraph Herald, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Business Journal, Atlanta Journal Constitution, M Magazine, Florida Wildlife Magazine, JET Magazine, I Want to be a Veterinarian, World Wildlife Fund’s Wildlife for Sale Educators Guide, Zoolife, and the Smithsonian Torch Newsletter. He has appeared on Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Chicago, Milwaukee, Atlanta and Washington, DC television stations (FOX, ABC, WGN, and NBC) in addition to National Public Radio and Radio Disney.
Dr. Davis earned his Bachelor of Science degree in animal and poultry sciences and completed two years of graduate study in cytogenetics at Tuskegee University. He then entered Tuskegee University’s School of Veterinary Medicine from which he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Dr. Davis is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Bert currently serves AAAM as Chair of the Development Committee.