Marquita F. Davis

About Marquita F. Davis

Transformational education and public/private sector executive with a deep record of leading complex systems change across early learning, public policy, philanthropy, and large-scale organizational strategy. I specialize in building high impact programs, scaling innovative solutions, and advancing reforms that improve outcomes for children, families, and communities.My career spans executive roles in state government, philanthropy, and national education organizations including serving as Chief Academic Officer & Senior Vice President at KinderCare Learning Companies, Deputy Director for Early Learning at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Chief Fiscal Officer for the state of Alabama.Recognized as a strategic, collaborative, and forward thinking leader, I have overseen multimillion dollar portfolios, managed statewide budgeting processes, transformed organizational systems, and led teams serving hundreds of thousands of children and families. I thrive in roles that require vision, operational excellence, political acumen, and the ability to build cross‑sector coalitions to create long term systemic impact.Core strengths:• Enterprise strategy & organizational leadership• Early learning systems transformation• Large scale program expansion & scaling innovation• Government relations & public policy• Philanthropic investment strategy• Multimillion dollar portfolio oversight• Cross-sector partnerships & coalition building• Executive team leadership

Experience

1. Chief Academic Officer

   KinderCare Learning Companies

   Dec 2022 — Present

Education

• University of Alabama at Birmingham

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

• Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University

  Master of Science (M.S.)

• Northern Illinois University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.)