Albany State University (ASU) has announced the appointment of Dr. Annice Yarber-Allen as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective March 2, 2026. Dr. Yarber-Allen will serve as the university’s Chief Academic Officer, providing strategic leadership for all academic units while advancing excellence in teaching, research, service, and student success.

As provost, Dr. Yarber-Allen will guide curriculum development, faculty advancement, accreditation, academic budgeting, and partnerships that strengthen Albany State’s academic mission and workforce alignment. Her appointment represents the first in a series of strategic cabinet hires under the leadership of President Robert Scott, Ph.D.

An Alabama native, Dr. Yarber-Allen earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work and doctorate in Medical Sociology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with a Master of Social Work in Program Planning and Administration, summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama. Her early professional experience in social work and healthcare initiatives informs her student-centered approach to academic leadership.

Dr. Yarber-Allen began her higher education career at Auburn University at Montgomery, advancing from assistant professor to full professor and earning the AUM Distinguished Teaching Professor Award. She later joined the University System of Georgia at Columbus State University, where she served in multiple senior academic leadership roles, including Acting Provost.

Her leadership includes securing competitive grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Department of Education, Department of Labor, and SAMHSA, supporting initiatives in workforce development, advanced manufacturing education, healthcare access, and rural workforce training. Dr. Yarber-Allen’s full biography can be found here.

Guided by a philosophy of servant leadership rooted in the belief to “always leave a place better than you found it,” Dr. Yarber-Allen brings a collaborative, forward-thinking approach to her new role at Albany State University.