Davidson, who received WMU's first Distinguished Scholar Award in 1985, retired in 2003 after more than 37 years on the faculty. He has written, edited, co-written or co-edited more than three dozen books. During his tenure at WMU, Davidson co-edited a popular international journal, Comparative Drama, for 33 years and founded the Early Drama, Art, and Music Project. He directed the now-discontinued EDAM project for 27 years and while serving as its lead editor, oversaw two book series published by Medieval Institute Publications.

In addition, Davidson spent many years editing WMU's Early Drama, Art and Music Review as well as helping to organize the University's world-renowned International Congress on Medieval Studies.