[2] Born May 28, 1943 in Phoenix, Arizona, but raised primarily in the southern United States, she grew up in the South and recalls the separation of whites and blacks.
Davis graduated magna cum laude from Spelman College in and received her Master's Degree from the University of California at Berkeley.
Davis has also served as the Principal Deputy Director Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs (1995–1997), as Consul General in Spain and was the U.S.
She also served as Distinguished Advisor at the Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University from 2003 until 2005.
Since 2022, Ambassador Ruth A Davis has been serving as the Co-Chairwoman of the ACE Global Leaders of Excellence Network.