FREDONIA, N.Y. - Azure Davey of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has been appointed as the second commissioner of the State University of New York Athletic Conference, an association of ten NCAA Division III institutions. Davey will begin her service as commissioner on July 9.

“I look forward to working with an outstanding group of Division III institutions and a storied conference,” said Davey. “The SUNYAC represents the best of Division III, and I'm honored to lead the conference into its next generation.”

The SUNYAC Conference's members selected Davey following an extensive nationwide search for a leader who will be able to continue to shape the conference. Davey will succeed Dr. Patrick R. Damore, who was the SUNYAC's founding commissioner and served for 33 years.

As commissioner, Davey will provide a critical link among the presidents, academic leaders, athletic administrators, and coaches of the SUNYAC. Her responsibilities will include administrative oversight of all of the conference's sports programs for men and women, including championships and special events, and she will administer its program-development efforts and day-to-day operational planning. Officiating, compliance and conference schedules will also fall under her purview. Davey will manage the annual operating budget, and she will coordinate contacts with prospective sponsors and affiliated organizations.

“Azure brings a wealth of experience to the SUNYAC,” stated Michael Mooney, Geneseo Athletic Director and chair of the search committee. “She has proven to be a great collaborator and problem solver and I am confident her dedication and administrative skills will have an immediate impact on the conference. On behalf of SUNYAC, I am excited to welcome Azure as the new Commissioner and I look forward to her leadership as SUNYAC continues to grow nationally.”

Davey comes to the SUNYAC office from the NCAA, as an associate director of academic and membership affairs for Division III since 2008. She served as the primary liaison to the Membership Committee, managing the provisional and reclassifying membership program, the active member education program and the Division III conference contact program. She also served as a secondary liaison to NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and supported the NCAA Division III Management and Presidents Councils.

Azure joined the membership services staff in August 2006 as an assistant director. Among other duties within that role, she served as a secondary liaison to the NCAA Division III Membership Committee and worked with various Division III conferences as a conference contact.

Prior to joining the NCAA staff, Azure served a two-year stint at State University of New York at Cortland. While at Cortland, Azure served as assistant athletic director in charge of compliance, student services and scheduling.

Before working with Cortland and the NCAA, Davey served as the head coach for both women's soccer and women's lacrosse at Utica College from 2000-02. Her 2002 women's soccer team was among the top 20 improved squads in Division III, enhancing its record from 3-12 the previous season to 8-7. Davey was the assistant field hockey and women's lacrosse coach at Elmira College in the 2003-04 season.

A 2000 graduate of Hamilton College, Davey received a bachelor of arts in government and classical studies. She earned her master of science in general education in 2004 from Elmira College. She participated in three sports while at Hamilton, playing four years of soccer in addition to squash for three years and lacrosse for one. As a soccer goalkeeper, she earned regional All-America, New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) and Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) honors.

The members of the SUNYAC Conference are The College at Brockport; Buffalo State; SUNY Cortland; Fredonia State; SUNY Geneseo; SUNY New Paltz; SUNY Oneonta; SUNY Oswego; Plattsburgh State; and SUNY Potsdam. SUNY Morrisville is an affiliate member in the sports of field hockey and ice hockey.

SUNYAC provides college athletic opportunities for 5,000 student-athletes in 20 sports each year including in baseball, basketball, cross-country, field hockey, ice hockey, indoor and outdoor track and field, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball.