Albany State names first associate provost for faculty affairs

Albany State University has appointed Dr. Denise Davis-Maye as its inaugural associate provost for faculty affairs, effective Aug. 1, 2026. The new role is designed to strengthen faculty recruitment, development and retention as the university pushes academic innovation and student success.

Why it matters: - Albany State University is creating a senior faculty leadership role to support recruitment, development, evaluation and retention. - The position is meant to connect faculty support more directly to student success, academic innovation and institutional growth. - The appointment adds a new layer of oversight for workload, staffing and faculty data across the university.

What happened: - Albany State University appointed Dr. Denise Davis-Maye as its inaugural associate provost for faculty affairs. - The appointment takes effect Aug. 1, 2026. - The role is part of the Division of Academic Affairs and will work closely with the provost. - Dr. Robert O. Scott said the new role reflects the university’s commitment to investing in faculty as a driver of student success and growth.

The details: - Dr. Davis-Maye will lead faculty affairs across recruitment and hiring, promotion and tenure, evaluation, professional development, policy and governance, workload and staffing. - The role also includes oversight of faculty data. - Dr. Davis-Maye previously served as professor and chair of the Department of Social Work at Alabama State University. - She brings more than 30 years of professional social work experience and more than 25 years in social work education. - Her background includes work focused on advancing social work education, developing future leaders and promoting equity-centered practice. - Dr. Annice Yarber-Allen said Davis-Maye’s leadership will help recruit and retain talented faculty and support professional growth at every career stage. - Davis-Maye is an alumna of Clark Atlanta University. - She completed graduate studies at Hunter College of the City University of New York and the University of Alabama. - She served as a U.S. Ambassador’s Distinguished Scholar at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. - Her leadership experience includes work with the Women’s Policy Institute of the Women’s Foundation of Alabama. - She serves on the board of directors of the ACLU of Alabama. - She is a Fulbright Specialist. - Her scholarship focuses on the well-being of girls and women of African ancestry, with attention to cultural, community and familial influences on adolescent development. - Her research has also examined global leadership development, cross-cultural collaboration and the experiences of women and girls of color in educational and community settings. - She co-edited Black Sisterhoods: Paradigms and Praxis, published by Demeter Press in 2022. - Her recent work centers on faculty success through professional development, international partnerships and global engagement initiatives.

Between the lines: - The new role suggests Albany State is moving to formalize faculty support as a strategic function, not just an administrative one. - The choice of a scholar-practitioner with social work, equity and leadership experience signals an emphasis on culture, mentorship and institutional alignment. - The university is pairing faculty development with broader goals around research capacity, teaching innovation and service.

What's next: - Davis-Maye will begin the role on Aug. 1, 2026. - The university is expected to use the position to build faculty systems that support academic excellence and student achievement. - Albany State will likely roll out the role’s priorities through faculty development, retention and governance efforts.

The bottom line: - Albany State is betting that stronger faculty infrastructure will translate into better teaching, more innovation and improved student outcomes.