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Davis named Professor of the Year again

Jun
01
2026
June 01, 2026
Frank Davis

Frank Davis, lecturer in criminology, law and society, is the students’ favorite instructor.

Former public defender wins student-chosen honor for the second consecutive year


Frank Davis has done it again.

 

The lecturer in criminology, law and society has been named the 2026 UC Irvine School of Social Ecology Professor of the Year by the school’s graduating class. 

 

The award, voted on entirely by students, is a testament to what Davis has built in a relatively short time since trading a nearly three-decade career as a public defender for a classroom in the Social Ecology II building. 

 

Since joining UCI’s faculty, he has become one of the most talked-about instructors on campus — not just for the difficulty of his courses, but for the rare combination of real-world expertise, infectious enthusiasm and genuine investment in his students' futures. Davis does not shy away from the complexity of criminal and constitutional law, but students consistently say he makes even the most demanding material accessible, entertaining and worth showing up for.

 

“Sometimes I get more from my students than I feel I give to them,” Davis says. “They are so engaged and enthusiastic that it makes teaching fun. As I tell them in class, when it comes to the the law, ‘it depends.’ I want them to think critically about legal arguments in both criminal and constitutional law and how to apply it to our everyday lives.”

 

For many students, Davis’ classes have served as a turning point — the moment they decided to pursue law. His office hours draw long lines of students, roughly half there for help with coursework and the other half seeking his counsel on law school and legal careers. 

 

That mentorship, students say, is every bit as valuable as what happens in the lecture hall.

 

In their nominations, several students noted that they enrolled in Davis’ courses more than once, an unusual move in a major where electives compete for limited space on a graduation checklist.

 

Students also highlighted Davis’ commitment to accessibility and inclusion, particularly his attentiveness to students navigating disability accommodations through UCI’s Disability Services Center.

 

In the students’ own words:

 

“Best TEACHER I have ever had in my life. Incredibly competent, fair, and respectful. There needs to be more professors like him. His lectures are super engaging, and he brings in relevant experience from his time as a public defender. He shows up every day with great energy, and makes challenging material super interesting. His tests are also challenging but fair, which is why he is so popular.”

 

“The subjects that he teaches could be dull and boring, but he makes sure that everyone is engaged and wants people to be just as excited about Criminal/Constitutional law because it is something that we have to live with in the future. Even if he seems like he's this big-shot retired lawyer, he makes himself human and doesn’t use his experience to belittle — rather he uses his experience to inspire.”

 

“His learning style and the passion he has towards his students made me want to go to class every single time. Every class was always something new, and when I had questions — or when students did — he never made them feel unwelcome or feel ‘dumb’' for asking. Frank Davis is a very fun professor. He made me feel excited for my future in law school. I wish he offered more classes at UCI.”

 

“He is a super cool professor with a lot of insight and advice in the legal field. He is very approachable and a fun person to talk to, as well as a reliable resource. You can definitely tell he has a strong passion in teaching and wants to see his students succeed!”

 

“Not only is Professor Davis knowledgeable and articulate, he also cares deeply about the subject and his students. His passion is infectious and inspiring.”

 

“He’s a great professor who makes class so fun and engaging. I've taken him twice and both times I enjoyed coming to his lectures. I feel like I have learned the most out of his classes.”

 

“By far my favorite professor I've ever had! He makes lectures fly by with his wit and engaging lecture style. His classes have been some of the hardest I've taken, but I truly have learned the most in those classes. He's fun, he makes LAW interesting, and I'd love to see him win another year!” 

 

“As someone who has always struggled with accommodations due to my DSC, I can say that Prof. Davis has always abided by the ‘we can work with whatever works for you’ approach. Not only does Prof. Davis make teaching seem like such a fun vocation, but he also makes the law seem so as well.”

 

Davis received his B.A. in political science from Villanova University and his J.D. from California Western School of Law. He served as director of the Orange County Alternate Public Defender’s Office from 2013 through 2024, where he oversaw daily operations, hired and trained staff attorneys, supervised felony trial attorneys, and participated in the innovative Orange County Young Adult Court. 

 

He retired from that post in 2024 and joined UCI’s faculty, a move he has described as his “dream job.”

 

“I love it,” Davis says of teaching and mentoring his students.

 

Clearly, the feeling is mutual.

 

“Prof. Davis is one of the most passionate and charismatic professors I've had in my four years at UCI. It was a joy to be in his class and experience his boomer humor. It is inspiring to see the connections he makes with his students and the comfortable environment for collaboration he creates,” a student notes.

 

Davis will be recognized at the school’s Honors and Awards Ceremony on June 10.

 

Past Professor of the Year recipients:

 

 — Mimi Ko Cruz

Department Affiliation
Criminology, Law & Society
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