Fairmont State University announced on April 7 that Dr. Abbey Zink will join the institution as Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, starting April 13. Zink, a native of West Virginia, brings nearly 15 years of senior academic leadership experience to the university.
The appointment is significant for Fairmont State as it seeks to strengthen its academic programs and support faculty development. Dr. Tim Oxley, who currently serves both as Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Business and Aviation, will assist with Zink’s transition before his planned retirement in June.
President Mike Davis said, “Abbey Zink brings a combination of strategic academic leadership and commitment to faculty development to Fairmont State. Her experience guiding institutions through both growth and transition, along with her collaborative and faculty-centered approach, will fuel Fairmont State’s academic excellence. As a West Virginia native, she also buys into the University’s vision and understands our region’s potential. We are excited to welcome Abbey home, where she will help advance Fairmont State as a Great Place to Learn.”
Zink most recently served as Provost at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. She has also been Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Sam Houston State University in Texas. Her background includes work in academic planning, library oversight, accreditation processes, research management, graduate education administration, faculty evaluation systems, tenure processes, shared governance initiatives, and policy development.
Provost Dr. Allen Bedford said about her appointment: “Dr. Zink’s extensive experience, much of it centered on providing conditions supporting faculty success, will be a great resource for the University. I am grateful that Dr. Zink is joining our academic leadership team. Her skills, values, and dedication will strengthen our support for faculty members, chairs, and deans. We are fortunate to have such an accomplished professional dedicate herself to advancing Fairmont State’s critical work in uplifting people and opportunities in north-central West Virginia.”
Throughout her career—drawing from her own time as a faculty member—Zink has focused on transparency in decision-making processes related to workload equity and professional growth across all ranks within academia.
The university looks forward to welcoming Dr. Zink as it continues its efforts toward fostering an environment described by leaders as “a Great Place to Learn.”
