Albany State University announces new academic administrative appointments
ALBANY, Ga. – Albany State University Appoints Dr. Jarrod Benjamin as Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Albany State University (ASU) has appointed Dr. Jarrod Benjamin as Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, effective Monday, March 2, 2026.
Dr. Benjamin will lead a comprehensive division that integrates Student Affairs and Enrollment Management to strengthen student access, engagement, persistence, and degree completion. Reporting directly to President, Robert Scott, Ph.D., he will provide strategic oversight for admissions, financial aid, recruitment, residence life, student engagement, counseling, student accessibility, student conduct, advising, testing, health services, and student development.
Dr. Benjamin joins ASU with more than two decades of experience across higher education administration, workforce development, and military leadership. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of The LEAD Firm, a national consulting organization supporting more than 200 colleges and universities in strengthening enrollment strategies, leadership capacity, and institutional effectiveness.
His previous higher education leadership roles include positions at Jackson State University, Florida International University, and Florida Memorial University, where he led initiatives that improved enrollment outcomes, expanded student support services, and increased institutional capacity. Across these roles, he secured and managed more than $26 million in federal, state, and private funding.
A U.S. Army veteran, Dr. Benjamin honorably served 14 years and attained the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Three, overseeing enterprise-level technology systems and multimillion-dollar assets during multiple overseas deployments. His military and civilian leadership experiences inform a disciplined, data-informed approach to student success and organizational performance.
Dr. Benjamin holds a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University, an MBA from Nova Southeastern University, and multiple professional credentials, including Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). His full biography can be found here.
As Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Dr. Benjamin will focus on building cohesive, student-centered strategies that support enrollment growth, persistence, and holistic student development, advancing Albany State University’s mission to provide access, excellence, and opportunity.
Albany State University Appoints Dr. Erin Gilliam as Vice Provost for Student Academic Progression
Albany State University has appointed Dr. Erin Wiggins Gilliam as Vice Provost for Student Academic Progression, effective March 2, 2026.
Reporting to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Annice Yarber-Allen, the Vice Provost for Student Academic Progression provides comprehensive leadership for initiatives that support student achievement and academic innovation. The role guides strategic and operational efforts aligned with University System of Georgia priorities and ensures that academic support services operate cohesively to promote student progression and success.
The Vice Provost provides oversight for University Libraries, the Honors Program, Undergraduate Research, International Education, and Distance Learning, while collaborating with academic deans and campus partners on accreditation, program development, and student success strategy.
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Erin Gilliam to Albany State University as our Vice Provost,” said Dr. Annice Yarber-Allen. “Dr. Gilliam brings a wealth of experience, a deep understanding of student success, and a clear commitment to mission-driven academic leadership. I look forward to working closely with her as we advance pathways that promote access, excellence, and student achievement.”
Dr. Gilliam is a seasoned scholar-administrator with more than twenty years of experience in higher education. Her leadership background includes service as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Assistant Vice President for Student Success, Dean of Graduate Studies, and Dean of the Honors College at Kentucky State University. She has led institution-wide initiatives focused on retention, academic recovery, curriculum redesign, and degree completion, with measurable outcomes aligned to accreditation and accountability frameworks.
A proud graduate of Kentucky State University, an HBCU, Dr. Gilliam holds a Ph.D. in American History from the University of Kentucky. She is an Aspen Faculty Fellow and an HBCU Executive Leadership Institute Fellow, reflecting her national engagement in equity-minded leadership and institutional transformation. Her full biography can be found here.
Dr. Gilliam’s appointment underscores Albany State University’s continued focus on student-centered academic strategy and sustainable institutional growth.
Albany State University Appoints Dr. Annice Yarber-Allen as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
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.
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