Albany State taps Denise Davis-Maye as inaugural faculty affairs chief

Albany State University has named Dr. Denise Davis-Maye as its first associate provost for faculty affairs, effective Aug. 1, 2026. The move is meant to strengthen faculty hiring, development and retention as ASU pushes academic innovation and student success.

Why it matters: - Albany State University is creating a new leadership role focused on faculty support, a sign the university is prioritizing hiring, development and retention as core drivers of student success. - The appointment gives the Provost’s office a dedicated executive for faculty affairs at a time when universities are under pressure to improve academic quality and institutional growth.

What happened: - Albany State University named Dr. Denise Davis-Maye its inaugural Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, effective Aug. 1, 2026. - The role is newly established at Albany State University and is designed to strengthen faculty excellence and academic innovation. - 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, said the appointment reflects the university’s investment in faculty as a driver of student success and institutional growth. - Dr. Annice Yarber-Allen, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Davis-Maye’s leadership will support recruiting, retaining and developing talented faculty.

The details: - Dr. Davis-Maye will oversee faculty recruitment and hiring, promotion and tenure, evaluation processes, faculty and professional development, policy and governance, and workload, staffing and data. - The position will work closely with the Provost and the Division of Academic Affairs. - 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 career includes service as a U.S. Ambassador’s Distinguished Scholar at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. - Davis-Maye also held leadership roles with the Women’s Policy Institute of the Women’s Foundation of Alabama. - She 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, including cultural, community and familial 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. - Davis-Maye is co-editor of Black Sisterhoods: Paradigms and Praxis (Demeter Press, 2022). - Her recent work has focused on faculty success through professional development, international partnerships and global engagement initiatives.

Between the lines: - Albany State University is signaling that faculty affairs is not just an administrative function but a strategic lever for academic performance. - Davis-Maye’s mix of social work leadership, scholarship and global engagement suggests ASU wants a leader who can connect faculty development with broader institutional goals.

What's next: - Davis-Maye is set to begin the new role on Aug. 1, 2026. - Albany State University is expected to use the new office to expand support for faculty recruitment, retention and professional growth across academic affairs.

The bottom line: - Albany State University is betting that a dedicated faculty affairs executive will help build a stronger faculty culture and sharpen its academic mission.