Campbell Law 45th Anniversary Alumni Spotlight: Nichad Davis ’19

Nominee: Nichad Davis, Class of 2019

Nichad Davis is a 2019 graduate from Campbell Law School. He is an attorney at Ward Black Law in Greensboro, N.C., practicing in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and workers compensation. 

Davis earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a concentration in clinical/community health from UNC-Charlotte. He studied abroad in South Africa during his senior year, which inspired him to apply to the Teach for America program. He served as a seventh grade social studies teacher in Duplin, N.C. for three years, during which time he discovered his passion for advocacy.

Davis received the Janette Soles Nelson Public Service Scholarship to attend Campbell Law School. During his time at Campbell, he competed in numerous national trial competitions on the Mock Trial team. Davis and his teammates were named National Champions of the Constance Baker Motley National Trial Competition hosted by the National Black Law Students Association in 2019 and Davis was presented with the Best Overall Advocate Award.  

Since graduating, Davis has founded a non-profit school, the Davis Academy, which is dedicated to promoting equity and closing the achievement gap within American’s educational system. He has also founded the Nichad Davis Rose From Concrete Scholarship Fund, which provides an academic scholarship and internship each year to a graduating senior from James Benson Dudley Highschool in Greensboro, N.C. The three recipients thus far have gone on to attend UNC-Chapel-Hill, N.C. State University and Wake Forest University. 

Q: You discovered your passion for advocacy while teaching seventh grade social studies in Duplin County, N.C. for Teach for America. Tell us more about that.

A: I was inspired to make an impact in my community outside of the practice of law. I wanted to “be the change that I wanted to see in society” and combat systemic inequality and all barriers to success. 

Q: How did Campbell Law School and your extensive Mock Trial team experience prepare you for your career?

A: My experience on the Campbell Law Mock Trial team was by far one of the best experiences of my life. I have had the opportunity to compete in the Nation’s toughest competitions and I was awarded Best Advocate in the 2019 NBLSA Constance Baker Motely competition. Dan Tilly, Jacob Morse and Kim Dixon helped to shape me into a relentless advocate and trial lawyer. I also was blessed to be a teammate to Campbell Law 2019 Top Gun — Tatiana Terry and her co-counsel Hannah Wallace. Both were my amazing teammates during my time on Trial Team.

Q: Share a memory or experience that has had a lasting impact on your career.

A: One experience that has shaped my career has been the recent deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Protests made America awaken its’ conscious with regard to 21st Century Policing and the systemic disparities in arrests. Professor Tony Ghiotto’s Criminal Procedure course was the foundation for much of my passion to fight for justice in this area. 

Q: What does Campbell University’s motto “leading with purpose” mean to you? 

A: “Leading with purpose” means to be a relentless doer of justice, even when it is unpopular. It means that you love people and build systems to uplift humanity and empower our collective identity as neighbors. It means I am who I am because of who we all are (Ubuntu).

Want to nominate a Campbell Law Alumna/Alumnus to be featured in a 45th anniversary spotlight?

If you would like to nominate a fellow alumnus/na who is living the university’s motto “leading with purpose,” please contact Lisa Snedeker at lsnedeker@campbell.edu for more information.