The Politics of Rhonda Davis
By: Sarah Punderson
Rhonda Davis isn't your average politician. In fact, she's not your average anything.
She doesn't teach average, doesn't act average and it certainly does not describe her road to professional and political success.
By day, the Morrisville, PA native is the Director of Fitness and Wellness at Philadelphia University and by night she moonlights as a newly elected rookie councilwoman in Morrisville.
To appreciate how atypical Davis is, one must understand how she got to her current position.
Nearly 10 years ago, Davis moved with her husband Barry and their daughter Amanda from suburban New Jersey to southern Georgia, where he took a job as the baseball coach at Georgia Southwestern University. She took a job as a physical education and science teacher at Americus (GA) High School.
What she saw blew her mind.
"They couldn't read or write and no one cared. I was crushed that this was actually happening to these kids," said Davis.
Not okay with underachievement, Davis decided to continue her style of teaching- demanding excellence, no matter what subject.
"I had them out on the track doing Presidential Fitness tests in 105 degree heat," said Davis. "They needed someone to motivate them and that's what they got."
While in the south, she was dismayed at what people were eating.
"Lots of fried chicken," said Davis.
Healthy eating habits and physical fitness would become part of her life's work from then on.
Just a month later, a new public school opened and recruited Davis to teach in an environment that was a better fit and she leaped at the chance. However, she would not forget her experience at Americus.
Community activism had always been a part of Davis' life, but while living in Georgia she took her involvement to the next level- volunteering with both the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity along with opening a small community gym, the only fitness center for miles around. She credits these experiences with advancing her interest in community involvement.
Ready for a change, Barry Davis took a job as the Head Baseball Coach at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ four years later. His wife was all too happy to move back to the northeast.
She took a job as the fitness director at Rider's Student Recreation Center (SRC), also doing personal training on the side. She continued to grow professionally, charged with a budget of nearly $800,000 and a growing student work force.
"Empowering the students to take charge and teaching them how to do things- I love that," said Davis.
The experience in Georgia showed Davis that many kids don't get a chance, so through her work at the SRC, she continued to make a difference with students- teaching them life lessons. When the University made changes at the fitness center, Davis voiced her opinion but ultimately ended up looking for a new job. Next stop Philadelphia University.
Back at PhilaU, students and staff can find Davis in the Gallagher Athletic and Recreation Center, buzzing around the fitness center giving personal training lessons, posting motivational quotes and even squeezing in some "me" time on the treadmill. She always has a smile on her face.
"I try to be a good role model by example, I'm always looking to develop and grow," said Davis.
Davis says plans for the future of the fitness center include trying to get spin bicycles for spin classes and continuing the "Biggest Loser" student contest in the spring. She is also looking for interested students to join the Wellness Committee- contact davisr@philau.edu for more information.
Also in the works will be the unveiling a brand new state-of-the-art Recreation website by the Athletic Department in early 2010 that will look similar to the current athletic website www.philaurams.com. The fitness center will be a big part of the new site.
"Our students are driven, and I want to show them that the more you put in, the more you get out of life," said Davis. "You really do get what you give."
Giving back carries over to Davis' home life in Morrisville, PA. In the past year and a half she's gotten more involved in politics, volunteering for the campaigns of Congressman Patrick Murphy and President Barack Obama. She has experience in disaster management and once her neighbors in Morrisville found out about her experiences, they asked her to start coming to town council meetings.
In November 2009, Davis decided to give politics the old college try and ran for a town council seat in Morrisville.
"Is this for me? Can I really make a difference? I decided I'd give it a shot," said Davis.
She won. Davis beat out Republican incumbent Ed Bailey to become a rookie town council member and will officially begin her two-year term as a public servant on Monday, January 4th 2010.
At a recent Athletic Department staff meeting, Athletic Director Tom Shirley beckoned Davis:
"Rhonda, or should I say Councilwoman Davis," he said.
