GADSDEN, AL – Gadsden State Community College has a new dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Grants and Special Projects. Dr. Dana Davis has been appointed to the position effective April 14. In this new role, she will oversee a comprehensive institutional effectiveness program, including annual planning, assessment, evaluation and continuous improvement initiatives. She will also lead efforts in institutional research, data analysis, decision-making and reporting while also managing the College's grant-writing, grant management, grant administration and special projects. She replaces Pam Johnson, who retired from Gadsden State in March after 30 years of service.
Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services with a concentration in Psychology and Social Work from Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn. She holds a master's degree in Counselor Education from Jacksonville State University and received her doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Alabama in 2010.
She brings a wealth of experience and an extensive career in higher education beginning in 1995 as an admissions counselor at Martin Methodist College. The following year, she worked as a graduate student financial aid clerk and a practicum student counselor at Jax State. In 1998, she started her career at Gadsden State as an admissions counselor and went on to work as an academic advisor and counselor as well as the acting director of Counseling and Advising. In 2018, Davis was promoted to director of the Advising and Retention Center, where she remained until her recent appointment.
In her new role, Davis will support the work of other divisions at Gadsden State by providing essential data for decision-making. She will also support the College’s TRIO grant programs, which provide educational services and opportunities to students in the community.
"IE helps provide the data needed for sound decisions, helps guide the College through self-evaluation and study for continuous improvement, and supports the work of our TRIO grant programs," she said.
Davis said she is very collegial in her leadership style.
"I enjoy working as a team and in a team environment toward a common goal,” she said. “This style encourages collaboration and inclusivity. When individuals have a voice and assist in the decision-making, they have more buy-in while also helping them to develop skills for future roles."
Communication and collaboration have been central to Davis's career at Gadsden State.
"I have built relationships with individuals across the College and have collaborated with multiple departments and programs to bring opportunities,” she said. “This experience will be an asset as I shift my focus from the Advising and Retention Center to Institutional Effectiveness."
With many years of experience in Student Services, Davis sees the transition to Institutional Effectiveness as a new challenge.
"I have spent many years working in Student Services, so moving to a different division of the institution will be something new for me," she said. "I anticipate there may be a learning curve; however, the existing staff in IE and Grants are outstanding, many of whom I have worked directly or collaborated with for years. I am so grateful and excited for the opportunity to join their team and be a part of the excellent work they do."
Davis is well-known for her dedication to the students and communities she serves. She has volunteered with the United Way of Etowah County for many years by serving on the Allocationals Panel and as a loaned executive, which earned her recognition as the Loaned Executive of the Year in 2019. Other honors include winning the Staff Excellence to Service Award at Gadsden State and the Services to Students Award from the National Society of Leadership and Success Excellence. In 2019, she was inducted into the Martin Methodist College Sports Hall of Fame for her service as student athletic trainer and athletic assistant for all sports.
Davis has presented to several state, regional and national organizations, including the National Organization for Student Success, Alabama Student Success Organization, National Association for Developmental Education, National Association of Academic Advisors and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
Davis is a member of the Alabama Community College System Advisor Group, the JSU Transfer Advisory Board and the BAMA LINK Political Action Committee for the University of Alabama. She also serves the College on several committees, currently serving as the liaison for the Margin of Excellence Committee; an advisor on the Title IX Committee; ad hoc member on the Curriculum Committee; and team lead for DegreeWorks, a web-based academic advising and degree audit tool.
"Gadsden State is very much my home, professionally speaking," she said. "We have truly great people who are kind, generous in spirit, and encouraging, both to students and to their colleagues. Every day we have an opportunity to make decisions and to impact students in a positive and life-changing way. That is a tremendous gift that I never want to take for granted."
Dr. Dana Davis – Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Grants and Special Projects at Gadsden State Community College
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