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At a meeting of national alumni and parent volunteers last night in New York City, announced the launch of the —a nonpartisan center that aims to forge innovative approaches to international security research while preparing undergraduates to lead in a transformed geopolitical order.

“At a moment of unprecedented challenges to global security and economic stability, the Davidson Institute formalizes ���㽶��Ƶ’s commitment to making a meaningful impact in the world, thanks to the extraordinary relationships our faculty share with global political, military, and business leaders,” President Beilock says. “We are profoundly grateful to the generosity of Jim, Julia, and the whole Davidson family for making this possible.”

Beilock announced the institute following a program with former Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson ’68 and former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, a and a Magro Family Distinguished Visitor in International Affairs at the at ���㽶��Ƶ. The program introduced key themes that the Institute will explore, including the changing nature of statecraft in the new geopolitical order and the evolving dynamic between questions of economic prosperity and national security.

“Leadership—in all its forms including statecraft—asks us to not dodge tough problems, but to run toward them and encourage others to do likewise,” Paulson says. “With this new institute, ���㽶��Ƶ and President Beilock are ready to do their part.”

“I’m delighted that ���㽶��Ƶ is launching the Davidson Institute for Global Security now to harness knowledge and inspire young people to become engaged in global issues,” Sullivan adds. “Having had the opportunity to teach and interact with the ���㽶��Ƶ community, I know this institute will be able to address the vital challenges of our time—at exactly the moment we need it.”

Davidson family gift honors ���㽶��Ƶ faculty commitment

The idea for the Davidson Institute emerged from faculty leadership and was encouraged by ���㽶��Ƶ parents and volunteer leaders Jim and Julia Davidson, who provided early seed funding for a four-year pilot and ultimately the major lead gift. Private gifts from another 20 ���㽶��Ƶ alumni and parents will establish the institute with $34 million in support to date.

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President Sian Leah Beilock, center, announced the launch of the Davidson Institute for Global Security at an event at The Frick Collection’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Auditorium in New York City on May 20. From left are Thomas Candon, the institute’s senior associate director; Dickey Center Director Tori Holt; Wendy Paulson; former Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson ’68; President Beilock; Julia Davidson; Jim Davidson; former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan; and Daryl Press, the institute’s faculty director. (Photo by Nicole Pereira)

The Davidsons are longtime members of the President’s Leadership Council at ���㽶��Ƶ, and Julia served on the Call to Lead Campaign Committee.

The couple has three children, who all studied at ���㽶��Ƶ: a son who graduated in 2019, a daughter who graduated in 2023, and another daughter who attended ���㽶��Ƶ in 2020 for two terms on the Twelve College Exchange and participated in the .

“We believe that ���㽶��Ƶ offers an exceptional education because of the uncommon commitment of its faculty experts to undergraduate learning,” says Jim Davidson. “We’ve seen it firsthand with our own children and hope that generations of ���㽶��Ƶ students will discover their passion for service and leadership through these new programs, whether they pursue careers in public service or in business.”

‘A virtuous cycle’: A distinctive combination of research, policy engagement, and undergraduate education

The pilot Initiative for Global Security was incubated at the Dickey Center. Professor of Government , who led the initiative, will serve as the Davidson Institute’s inaugural faculty director.

The institute is built on three interrelated pillars—rigorous research, faculty who are engaged with active policymakers in the U.S. and abroad, and a focus on relevant, demanding undergraduate education—whose connections are what Press calls “the secret sauce” that makes the institute unique among peer institutions. 

“It all starts with the research. When we do rigorous research and bring our findings to the policy community, the policymakers learn from us, and we also learn from them,” Press says. “Then we bring that knowledge back to the classroom, and the result is a far more vibrant, real-world experience for our students. Great research creates opportunities for serious policy engagement, and that policy engagement makes us better teachers.”

At the same time, students across the university are excited to engage in research and policy, with many going on to policymaking roles or academia themselves.

“It’s a virtuous cycle,” Press says.

“The Davidson Institute is a fantastic outgrowth of years of collaboration among ���㽶��Ƶ faculty—particularly in government, history, and, increasingly, economics, business, cybertechnology, and energy—to animate scholarship, policy and new knowledge,” says , Norman E. McCulloch Jr. Director of the Dickey Center. “Together with policymakers, we can shape real-world engagement and problem-solving, on and off campus.”

An unparalleled undergraduate experience

The Davidson Institute strengthens ���㽶��Ƶ’s unparalleled undergraduate education. Through the institute, ���㽶��Ƶ students will have access to classes, internships, immersive trips in the U.S. and abroad, and regular access to visiting global thought-leaders. 

Students will have opportunities to collaborate on research with top faculty in international security. One such research partnership, between recent alumnus Ben Vagle ’22 and his senior thesis adviser, Professor of Government , led the two to develop Vagle’s thesis into a groundbreaking book, Command of Commerce: America’s Enduring Economic Powe