Nadene Davidson joined the faculty at the University of Northern Iowa in 1981. She served as teacher and administrator at Price Laboratory School , prior to joining the HPELS faculty in the fall of 2004. Currently, she teaches curriculum and methods classes for elementary and secondary preservice teacher candidates in the Health division. Dr. Davidson is a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood/Career and Technical Education. She is also a Certified Home Economist. Dr. Davidson serves on the following Iowa Department of Education advisory boards: Iowa High School Steering Committee and Iowa High School Design Team. Dr. Davidson serves on the education advisory board for the Institute for Character Development. She is also an Iowa trainer for the National Association of Secondary School Principal's Breaking Ranks II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform materials. Dr. Davidson's research interests focus on high school reform and educational leadership in the reform process. More specifically, educational leadership in the high school reform process of preparing students to live satisfying lives in the 21 st Century.

Dr. Davidson serves as co-director for the Iowa Math Science Coalition.