Dr. Dávila-García received her B.S. in Biology from Slippery Rock University in 1982, and a Master’s and PhD degree in Biology with a focus in Neurosciences from New York University in 1986 and 1989, respectively. She joined the faculty of the Pharmacology Department at Howard University College of Medicine in 1999 where she is presently an Associate Professor in Pharmacology and Director of Graduate Programs. She is a member of various scientific organizations such as ASPET, SfN, APS, SONA, IBRO and FENS. She is a Harvard Macy Institute Alumn of the Professional Health Educators Program. Dr. Dávila-García is devoted to mentoring young scientists. She serves as an Executive leader of the Woman in World Neuroscience (WWN), is a Board member of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and serves in Council for the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) as an ad-hoc member. Dr. Dávila-García organized a School of Neuropharmacology in Africa with funds from IBRO and the African Research Council. Her research work focuses on the the function and modulation of nicotinic receptors on addiction/dependence pathways and cardiorespiratory centers.