Patricia Davison-Lewis is Counsel, Labor, Employment and Administration Section, at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. She is a former judicial clerk for the District of Columbia Circuit and a former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. Patricia uses her advocacy skills to engage in many volunteer activities at the FDIC and in other professional organizations.
Patricia recently received a Mission Achievement Award from the FDIC. Last year, she was one of 14 employees to receive a Chairman’s Excellence Award for her work with the FDIC’s Corporate Recruitment and Minority Recruitment Task Force, a volunteer collateral duty she has undertaken for the past 12 years, visiting college and university career fairs to recruit a diverse and inclusive work force for the FDIC. The agency hires approximately 1,000 students to train to be bank examiners nationwide each year including many accounting, economic, finance and business majors, as well as IT majors, and they seek to attract and maintain a diverse workforce including women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.
Patricia was the Planning Chair for the DC Bar Communities first ever (and very successful) DEI Conference in June 2021. She is currently Chair of a Teen Book Project for Jack and Jill America, leading high school teens in publishing a book (a compilation of essays) conveying their perceptions regarding the pandemic and social media.
Patricia has participated in many panel discussions, including The Impact of the Pandemic on Women in the Workplace, for a joint Wharton Women/University of Pennsylvania Alum Clubs event and at the Social Security Administration’s first ever DEI Summit.
She is Chair and Founder of the Networking Inclusion, Advancement, African America Women, Employee Resource Group (“NIA Women”), an FDIC Employee Resource Group (“ERG”) made up of almost 200 women. They put on programs that support women and women of color employees in their career development.
Patricia is a member of the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Club Executive Board; a member of the Penn Law Alum Club; and a member of the DC Bar DEI Working Group.
When did you join the WBA?
2020
What committees/forums have you been involved in?
The Women of Color Taskforce
Why did you join the WBA?
I am an advocate and I want to use my voice to make sure that traditionally marginalized groups (e.g., women — and particularly women of color) have a voice.
What benefits do you get from being a part of the WBA and why do you think others should join?
It is wonderful to be connected with other amazing women lawyers who wish to use their talent and advocacy skills to move the needle toward a more diverse and inclusive workplace. I enjoy serving on panels discussing important issues impacting women in the workplace.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
I believe in giving back to those who may not have had the opportunities that I have had. One of my proudest accomplishments was travelling to Holmesburg Prison to tutor inmates in English while I was a second-year student in law school in Philadelphia. I previously served as a pro bono court appointed guardian ad litem to represent and advocate for abused and neglected children removed from their home with Children for Lawyers America.