Welcome from the Provost

Dr. Annice Yarber-Allen was appointed Albany State University's Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, beginning her official tenure on March 2, 2026. Dr. Yarber-Allen is a seasoned higher-education leader who advances the academic mission through student success, faculty excellence, and institutional innovation.

An Alabama native, Dr. Yarber-Allen earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work and her doctorate in Medical Sociology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a Master of Social Work in Program Planning and Administration, summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Before her career in higher education administration, Dr. Yarber-Allen held leadership positions in social work, including roles in prevention programs, treatment services, and healthcare initiatives, providing her with insight into the challenges and opportunities facing today's students.

Dr. Yarber-Allen joined Auburn University at Montgomery in 2004, where she advanced through the academic ranks from assistant professor to full professor. Her scholarship and teaching excellence established her as a respected voice in her field, earning the AUM Distinguished Teaching Professor Award. She was appointed Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Geography in 2016.

Dr. Yarber-Allen's tenure with the University System of Georgia began at Columbus State University in 2018. She has served in progressively senior roles—Department Chair, Dean, Interim Senior Vice Provost, and Acting Provost—providing a deep understanding of curriculum and assessment, faculty life, student engagement, and strategic operations across the academic enterprise.

Dr. Yarber-Allen is strongly committed to external engagement, resource development, and workforce-aligned academic innovation. She has secured numerous competitive grants from agencies including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Science Foundation, Department of Education, and Department of Labor. Her grant work has supported access and workforce development, including initiatives in advanced manufacturing education, substance abuse treatment, and rural and primary care workforce training.

Her scholarly contributions include numerous peer-reviewed publications, national and regional presentations, and two peer-reviewed edited books.

Dr. Yarber-Allen's leadership philosophy is grounded in the wisdom passed down from her mother: "always leave a place better than you found it." This principle of servant leadership guides her approach to building sustainable excellence and transformative impact in higher education.

Dr. Yarber-Allen is married to Fulton Allen, a graduate of Rutgers University and a Purple Heart Medal recipient (Vietnam War).