Copyright © 2021 Albuquerque Journal
William E. “Bud” Davis served as University of New Mexico president from 1975 to 1982, championed the school’s academic achievements, added faculty, supervised campus expansion, healed wounds, wrote a book chronicling UNM’s history and rode out one of the institution’s most storied storms.
“He was a good leader in that he told the story of the university well to the public and to the (state) Legislature,” said Karen Abraham, who was associate dean of students and director of student activities when Davis became UNM president. “He provided stability for a university coming out of the tumultuous times (of the late ’60s and early ’70s).