Assistant Vice President, Central Recruitment and Talent Acquisition
Denise Motley, JD, has worked for Duke University and Duke University Health System since 2002. She is the Assistant Vice President, HR Human Resources, Central Recruitment and Talent Acquisition, Duke Temporary Service (DTS), the Resource Center and the Background Check Center (BGCC).
Prior to coming to Duke, Denise was Commonwealth-wide Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Director for the Governor's Office of Administration under Governor Tom Ridge, in Harrisburg, PA. As a proven leader, previously she held the position of Deputy Secretary for Administration, Department of Labor and Industry in Harrisburg under Governor Robert Casey’s administration. Denise provided executive leadership for administration for over 6,000 employees, with primary oversight for Human Resources, Administrative Services, Financial Management, Research and Statistics, the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review and Second Level Tax Appeals.
During her career, Denise has held other positions in the areas of employment law, investigations and human resources in the private sector, as well as in the legislative, judicial, local, state and federal space.
Strongly committed to community service, Denise currently serves as the Chair of the Duke University Federal Credit Union (DUFCU), which supports the value and life-long benefits of higher education (member since 2014, Board Chair 2019-present). Denise previously served as the Chair of the Durham Workforce Development Board in Durham, NC (member 2005- 2012, Chair of the Board 2008-2012). She also serves as a member of the StepUp Board, committed to the mission of transforming lives through employment and life skills training. She has partnered with StepUp Durham since 2016, to provide job opportunities at Duke University and Duke University Health System to StepUp Durham graduates/job seekers, and build a partnership and bridge for those who may be justice-involved, have work gaps or other barriers to employment.
Denise is a member of The Links, Incorporated, Raleigh (NC) Chapter, an international, not-for-profit corporation established in 1946; The Moles, Inc. Raleigh, NC, a national community service organization; and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a public service sorority. She is a published author and her first book is entitled “I Give You My Song and God’s Rhapsody.” Denise is completing her second book, entitled “What’s JOY Got To Do With It? Everything!”
Denise received her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology from Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland and her Juris Doctorate (JD) from Southern University School of Law, Baton Rouge, LA. She is the proud and honored mother of one daughter, Alanna, her heart, who is a producer for CNN in Atlanta.