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

Albany State University has tapped Dr. Denise Davis-Maye to launch a new associate provost role focused on faculty affairs, effective Aug. 1, 2026. The appointment is part of ASU’s effort to strengthen faculty support, academic innovation and student success across the university.

Why it matters: - Albany State University is creating a new senior leadership post to sharpen faculty recruitment, development and retention. - The role is designed to support student success by strengthening teaching, scholarship and academic operations across the university. - The appointment signals ASU’s push to make faculty excellence a central part of its academic strategy.

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. - Dr. Davis-Maye will work with the provost and the Division of Academic Affairs. - The university said the position is newly established.

The details: - Dr. Davis-Maye will oversee faculty recruitment and hiring, promotion and tenure, evaluation processes, faculty and professional development, policy and governance, workload, staffing and data. - She will serve on the Academic Affairs leadership team. - Her portfolio includes initiatives meant to build a strong faculty community and support scholarly productivity. - Albany State said the role will also strengthen teaching and learning across the institution. - 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 equity-centered practice in local, national and global settings. - Dr. 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. - Her career includes service as a U.S. Ambassador’s Distinguished Scholar at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. - She has 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 focuses on the well-being of girls and women of African ancestry, especially 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 emphasizes professional development, international partnerships and global engagement to expand research capacity and improve teaching and service.

Between the lines: - ASU is tying faculty affairs more directly to institutional growth, not just personnel management. - The new role suggests the university wants more coordination around hiring, retention and faculty development as higher education institutions compete for talent. - Davis-Maye’s background in social work, equity and global engagement fits a role that blends administration with mission-driven academic leadership.

What's next: - Dr. Davis-Maye is set to begin Aug. 1 and will start shaping faculty policy and support systems immediately. - ASU is likely to use the new position to drive future faculty development, retention and innovation efforts. - The university said the role will help advance academic excellence and student achievement over time.

The bottom line: - Albany State is betting that a dedicated faculty affairs leader will help build a stronger academic workforce and improve outcomes across campus.