Maggy Tomova Joins the College of Sciences Today as Dean

College of Sciences Dean Maggy Tomova

Maggy Tomova, Ph.D., officially joins the University of Central Florida today as dean of the College of Sciences.

Tomova, 44, brings deep research and leadership experience to the role, most recently as associate dean for the 18 departments that fall under the Natural, Mathematical, and Social Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa (UI). She was promoted into this role from chair of the Department of Mathematics.

Her path to Orlando includes the University of California, Santa Barbara — where she earned her doctorate — and Rice University where she was an Evans Instructor. The National Science Foundation has recognized her expertise as a mathematics scholar with multiple grants including a CAREER grant, while her peers highlight a passion for service and student success. For example, Tomova guided promising high school students from low-income families toward college-level mathematics as the Director of the UI’s Summer Math Institute.

Collectively, that experience has formed a leadership style built around three pillars: collaboration, diversity and impact.

“I’ve discovered over time these are the values that are personally important to me, but also motivate and drive the teams I lead,” Tomova said.

Collaboration is an “indispensable tool,” Tomova said, because it nurtures the exchange of ideas and boosts the value of individual expertise. Similarly, diversity broadens viewpoints and strengthens a team’s position through inclusion. Impact is the outcome of the first two, the result of working toward a common goal.

The pillars will serve as the baseline for strategic plans and communications moving forward.

Tomova sets up her new home in the City Beautiful with her wife, their two daughters and their beloved pets. They look forward to taking part in the local ballroom dancing community, volunteering to help kids and animals in need, and watching their younger daughter play soccer.

Tomova replaces Interim Dean Tosha Dupras, Ph.D., who filled in for now Interim Provost Michael Johnson, Ph.D. when he left COS. Dupras showed extraordinary leadership during one of the toughest chapters for COS, and “I can’t thank her enough for all her hard work,” Tomova said.

A full calendar of meet-and-greets waits for Tomova as she begins the process of learning the people and places of the College of Sciences. But it doesn’t diminish her excitement.

“The people of the College of Sciences demonstrate excellence every day, and I’m convinced that together we can build even further on our great potential,” Tomova said.

Click below to learn about Dean Tomova’s three leadership principles.