One of Deborah McDavis’ most treasured possessions is a book she received from former First Lady Claire Oates Ping when she and husband Roderick McDavis moved to Ohio University almost five years ago.

The book — an anthology of interviews with first ladies at universities around the country — sits on a tall shelf on the first floor of the president’s residence at 29 Park Place surrounded by gifts, photographs and mementos from previous presidencies.

 “I think sometimes folks assume that first ladies all do the same thing, and yet they don’t,” McDavis said. “They’re probably as varied in their roles on campus as are the presidents themselves who have different ways of leading.”

While McDavis, who taught college English for 33 years, performs the traditional first lady duties such as hosting visitors and making public appearances, she is the first to receive a salary for her position.

In 2004 — before the McDavises began at OU — one part-time and three full-time staff members worked at the president’s residence, all paid from the residence and facilities budgets, said Jennifer Haft, executive office assistant for the President’s Office. One was an events planner and speechwriter for former President Robert Glidden, one a cook and two were custodial staff.

 In 2009, there are two full-time workers — residence coordinator Michael Blair and McDavis herself. Both Blair and McDavis handle events planning, cooking and cleaning. First Lady McDavis makes $28,144 per year.

Haft said the consolidation saves $60,253 per year. Blair’s salary comes from the facilities budget, and McDavis’ comes solely from the residence budget.

The residence budget — an annual sum of $78,242 — also covers visitors’ amenities and day-to-day expenses, said Rebecca Watts, President McDavis’ chief of staff.

Although McDavis said she remains in Athens 85 to 90 percent of the time, she is occasionally called — with her husband — to different cities to meet with prospective donors.

 “I don’t know that anyone thinks very much of a president of anything without a first lady,” McDavis said. “Presidential spouses, I think, are very important to give credence to the partnership … aspect of the leading of the university or organization.”

She joined her husband when he met Steven and Barbara Schoonover at their Louisiana home last year to discuss a $7.5 million donation to OU.

“It sheds a different light on the university when the president and the first lady are there together,” said Howard Lipman, vice president for University Advancement, who travels with the president on all of his visits to potential donors.

When on campus, McDavis regularly hosts dinners at their residence for the Alumni Board, the OU Foundation’s board, the OU Board of Trustees, faculty and sometimes politicians — a longtime role of the first lady at OU.

During the 1960s, Marion Parson Alden — wife of former OU President Vernon Alden (1962-1969) — hosted former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson at 29 Park Place.

In the early 1970s, Kathryn Dix Sowle — wife of former OU President Claude Sowle (1969-1974) — would have faculty wives at her home to get to know them better and to make herself more visible on campus.

McDavis, mindful of Sowle’s example, also said she and her husband try to remain as visible as possible. She said one of her biggest frustrations as first lady is not being able to attend all student events she’s invited to.

Elizabeth Baker — wife of former OU President John C. Baker (1945-1961) — also supported student programs. In 1958, she bought the Monomoy Theatre in Chatham, Mass., for the School of Theater. Students used the place as summer training grounds.

“I think, to see the impact of those first ladies, you don’t have to look far around campus,” said Director of Annual Giving and Communication Jennifer Bowie, referring to Baker’s theater, the Marion Parson Alden gallery in Grover Center and the Claire Ping Cottage.

To aid communication between the president and his vice presidents, McDavis started acting as liaison in 2007, meeting with all of them individually in half-hour segments.

The positive response from the vice presidents has led her to consider doing the same thing with all the deans. McDavis said she thinks actions like these help to make her a more natural part of OU.

The McDavises host visits from past presidential couples often and every time former First Lady Ping stays in Athens, she remembers one of the best gifts she has ever received. With the many different stories the anthology presents, McDavis said she is able to discover different perspectives and approaches to the job.

“I’m learning a lot about what it means to lead a place,” she said. “You have your fingers in a lot of pies.”