Hospitality | Tourism
President and CEO
America’s Black Holocaust Museum | Milwaukee
Dr. Robert Davis was tapped to become president and CEO of America’s Black Holocaust Museum in 2019 and led the cultural institution to its long-awaited reopening in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood in 2022. Previously, Davis was CEO of the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, where he helped secure the organization’s largest foundation gift it had received at that time.
Education: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate of veterinary medicine, all from Tuskegee Institute and Tuskegee University
Favorite destinations: “Kenya, Tanzania, Paris, Rome, Turks and Caicos, Hilton Head, Washington, D.C.”
Fun fact: “I collect rocks and quartz, and I am a Marvel Comics nerd.”
One thing that would make Wisconsin better: “More diversity, significant educational reform and wealth equity.”
Biggest recent accomplishment: “The grand reopening and re-emergence of America’s Black Holocaust Museum after being closed since 2008. Since we reopened in late February, we have already received a VISIT Milwaukee award and a MANDI Award, and (were) named by Time Magazine as one of the 52 places to see in 2022 in the world.”
As you enter your office, what would you choose to be your walk-up or theme song: “‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ by Miles Davis. It is bold, beautiful, passionate, sweet, subtle and yet explosive.”