Announcement Regarding Columbia University Chaplain Jewelnel Davis

Dear members of the Columbia community,

I write to share the news that Chaplain Jewelnel Davis will be retiring at the end of this month. We are deeply grateful for her nearly three decades of dedicated service to and care for our community.

Jewelnel joined Columbia University in 1996, appointed by President Emeritus George Rupp, and during her tenure guided generations of students, faculty, and staff with uncommon grace. She played a central role in shaping the Religious Life Advisors Program, led the University Chaplain’s Office with compassion and integrity, and helped strengthen Columbia’s commitment to interfaith understanding. 

Reflecting on her appointment, President Emeritus Rupp told me, “It was my privilege to appoint Chaplain Davis in 1996. She has been a steady and compassionate guide for Columbia ever since, offering comfort in difficult times and anchoring our community with her deep commitment to service.”

President Emeritus Lee C. Bollinger reflected on her lasting influence: “During her many years as University Chaplain, Jewelnel offered spiritual strength and meaning to so many, personal counsel to many more, and a loyal friendship that all could rely on. Her impact will endure through the lives and work of those of us who are better for having known her and shared in her presence at the University.”

Jewelnel’s stewardship of the Kraft Family Fund for Interfaith and Intercultural Awareness—established in 2005 through a generous gift from Trustee Emeritus Robert Kraft, CC ’63—and her support for the Kraft Global Fellowships stand out as enduring contributions to the University’s mission.

When asked about Jewelnel’s impact on the fellowship program, Robert Kraft shared with me this reflection, “My family and I are grateful for our partnership with Chaplain Davis. Her integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to strengthening the Columbia community have left a meaningful and lasting imprint on all of us. Throughout her tenure, she provided steady leadership and moral clarity. Her devotion to fostering understanding and spirituality has enriched the lives of countless students, faculty, and families. I am thankful for her service and her enduring legacy.”

Before joining Columbia, Jewelnel served as chaplain at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, for a decade. The college awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2005. She attended Brown University, Yale University, and the University of Connecticut.

We are profoundly thankful for the wisdom, kindness, and steady presence that Jewelnel has offered Columbia throughout her career. She has provided pastoral care and counseling to countless faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and has been a constant source of comfort and guidance at many of the University’s most important moments, including Commencement. As she steps back from her formal role, Jewelnel will continue as University Chaplain Emerita and remain an important part of our community, and we look forward to seeing her on campus often in the years ahead.

Please join me in expressing heartfelt appreciation for Jewelnel and in wishing her every happiness in the years ahead.

Sincerely,

Angela V. Olinto
Provost
Rutherfurd Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics