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College and Career Readiness for African, African-American and Black Students and Communities in Utah.
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Build-Invest-Connect-Empower!

Expect the Great was established by Regent France A. Davis during his service on the Utah Board of Regents, following the release of the 2017 report Utah: A State of Opportunity, which identified significant gaps in access, retention, and graduation rates for Black, African American, and African students in Utah’s colleges and universities. This history continues to inform the program’s understanding of how to better support students in navigating higher education and workforce development.

Today, Expect the Great has expanded its focus to provide a welcoming space for any student seeking additional information and resources to improve college access, strengthen retention, support successful graduation, and career readiness. The program remains committed to helping students reach their academic and career aspirations through informed guidance, community partnerships, networking, and opportunities that promote educational success.

 
 
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OUr Founders

Rev. France A. Davis

Founder & Expect the Great Visionary Leader 

Expect the Great was envisioned by Rev. France A. Davis during his tenure with the Utah System of Higher Education Board of Regents. He sought to develop an outreach event aimed at increasing college access, participation, retention, and graduation for the state's African, African-American, and Black students and communities. Rev. Davis was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2008; he served as vice chair of the Board of Regents from 2014 until the expiration of his term as regent in 2017. 

Rev. Davis has served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City since 1973 and ended his tenure in 2020. He holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, Westminster College, University of Utah, and Northwest Nazarene University. 

We give thanks and honor to Rev. Davis for his lifelong commitment to serving the community. We celebrate 10 years of Expect the Great because of your vision and leadership. 

Celebrating the launch of the France Davis Utah Black Archive


 

Betty Sawyer

Betty has been with Expect the Great since the very beginning. Betty has worked in higher education at the University of Utah and Weber State University. Betty has been a community change agent and advocate for over 40 years. Betty is the founder of the Project Success Coalition, Ogden Branch NAACP Chapter President , and leads the Juneteenth Celebration throughout Utah; to just name a few efforts she has been involved with. 

Betty has a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Morgan State University in Baltimore, a Bachelor’s in Physical Therapy, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Utah. 

We give thanks and honor to Betty for her lifelong commitment to serving the community. You are a beacon of light that shines bright and lifts us up and moves us forward.

Project Success Coalition