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, AAAS and FENS, and in many of which she has had many leadership roles. She is a founder and one of the Executive leaders of the World Women in Neuroscience (WWN), was a Board member of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and served in Council for the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) as an ad-hoc member. Dr. Dávila-García has organized two Schools 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. She is a Harvard Macy Institute Alumn of the Professional Health Educators Program. Dr. Dávila-García is devoted to mentoring young scientists.