Judith M. Davenport

Dr. Judith M. Davenport practiced general dentistry for two decades before her retirement in 2000. She served as a dental consultant for Dental Plus United Concordia of Pennsylvania Blue Shield from 1995 to 1997 and was a member of Highmark Corp.’s Dental Review Committee from 1997 to 2001.

In tribute to her work in the field, Dr. Davenport was a featured dentist in a video by Detroit’s African American Museum and in another titled “Women in Dentistry,” produced by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She also appeared in the children’s book “Going to the Dentist,” written by the late children’s TV show host Fred Rogers as part of his Mister Rogers’ First Experience series.

Dr. Davenport’s extensive civic involvement includes serving as a trustee of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Foundation; the Andy Warhol Museum; the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh; Martha’s Vineyard Hospital; the Pittsburgh affiliate of the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; and Carlow University, where she also was board chairman from 2002-06. She is on the board of directors of Sheridan Broadcasting Corp., which her family owns. She is a trustee emeritus for Forbes Hospital and Pittsburgh Public Theater.

Among the committees on which Dr. Davenport has served are the Board of Visitors of University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health, the International Women’s Forum, the Pittsburgh chapter of the Washington Regional Selection Panel for the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, the Host Committee of the Governor of Pennsylvania’s Commission for Women and the Residence Preservation Committee of the Governor of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Davenport earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, a Master of Public Health from Pitt’s Graduate School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science from Pennsylvania State University. She has been named a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania, a Distinguished Alumna and an Alumni Fellow of Pennsylvania State University, and a Legacy Laureate and an African American Distinguished Alumna of the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Davenport is married to Ronald R. Davenport Sr., chairman and CEO of Sheridan Broadcasting Corp.