Albany State names Denise Davis-Maye as inaugural faculty affairs associate provost

Albany State University has tapped Dr. Denise Davis-Maye to serve as its first associate provost for faculty affairs, starting Aug. 1, 2026. The new role is meant to strengthen faculty hiring, development, evaluation and retention as the university pushes academic innovation and student success.

Why it matters: - Albany State University is creating a new top academic leadership role focused on faculty support, signaling a stronger institutional push on hiring, retention, development and governance. - The appointment is tied to Albany State University’s broader goals of faculty excellence, academic innovation and student success. - The role gives faculty affairs a direct seat in academic planning, which can affect teaching quality, scholarly productivity and program stability.

What happened: - Albany State University appointed Dr. Denise Davis-Maye as its inaugural associate provost for faculty affairs, effective Aug. 1, 2026. - The university said the position is newly established. - Dr. Davis-Maye previously served as professor and chair of the Department of Social Work at Alabama State University. - Dr. Robert O. Scott, president of Albany State University, called Davis-Maye’s experience and leadership a strong fit for the role.

The details: - The associate provost role will cover faculty recruitment and hiring, promotion and tenure, evaluation processes, faculty and professional development, policy and governance, and oversight of workload, staffing and data. - Dr. Davis-Maye will work closely with the provost and the Division of Academic Affairs. - Albany State University said the position is meant to strengthen faculty excellence and support student success. - Dr. Annice Yarber-Allen, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Davis-Maye will help recruit and retain talented faculty and support professional growth at every career stage. - Davis-Maye brings more than 30 years of professional social work experience and more than 25 years in social work education. - Her background includes work as an educator, scholar and practitioner focused on equity-centered practice. - She is an alumna of Clark Atlanta University and completed graduate studies at Hunter College of the City University of New York and the University of Alabama. - Her experience includes service as a U.S. Ambassador’s Distinguished Scholar at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia and leadership roles with the Women’s Policy Institute of the Women’s Foundation of Alabama. - Davis-Maye currently serves on the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Alabama and is a Fulbright Specialist. - Her scholarship centers on the well-being of girls and women of African ancestry, with attention to cultural, community and family influences on adolescent development. - Her research also covers global leadership development, cross-cultural collaboration and the experiences of women and girls of color in educational and community settings. - She is co-editor of Black Sisterhoods: Paradigms and Praxis (Demeter Press, 2022). - Her recent work focuses on professional development, international partnerships and global engagement to expand research capacity and innovation in teaching and service.

Between the lines: - Albany State University is not just filling a job; it is formalizing faculty affairs as a strategic function during a period when universities are under pressure to do more on retention, workload and academic quality. - Davis-Maye’s background in social work, equity-centered practice and global scholarship suggests Albany State University wants the role to blend administration with mission-driven academic leadership. - The emphasis on professional development and global engagement points to a broader effort to make faculty support a lever for institutional growth, not only personnel management.

What's next: - Dr. Davis-Maye is set to begin Aug. 1, 2026. - Albany State University will likely move the new position into faculty hiring, evaluation and development planning once she is in place. - The university’s stated goal is to build a stronger, more supported and forward-thinking faculty community.