James Davidson

James Davidson, a political science professor who was the last man to serve as Newcomb College's permanent dean, dies at 88

NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ James Davidson, a political science professor who was the last man to serve as Newcomb College's permanent dean, died June 5. He was 88.

He died at New River Valley Medical Center in Radford, Va., his son James H. Davidson said.

Although Newcomb was established in 1896 as Tulane University's undergraduate liberal arts college for women, it had a history of male leaders. Davidson was its dean from 1969 to 1977, when he resigned to teach political science full time.

Three men led the college after Davidson stepped down, but each served on an interim basis.

Newcomb was closed in 2006 as part of Tulane president Scott Cowen's restructuring plan for the university.

Davidson taught at Tulane until his retirement in 1991. He divided his time between New Orleans and West Virginia until settling in Blacksburg, Va., in 2001.