On July 1, Dr. Magdalena Toda joined Mo State as dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS). We recently caught up with Toda to chat about her priorities for the year, her enthusiasm for interdisciplinary collaboration and experiential learning and the “youthful spirit” she encounters everywhere on campus.

Q&A

Academic Expressions: How has your move to Springfield and Mo State been?
Magdalena Toda: I’m already feeling at home! I’m happy to be part of the Bear family, and everyone has been so kind. More than anything, I was drawn here by the people. Throughout the search process, I met faculty and staff who care deeply about students, who are dedicated to their disciplines and genuinely want to work together. I also connect with the strategic plan, “Igniting Opportunity.” Compared to other strategic plans I’ve seen, this is the most enthusiastic, and the people here truly reflect its goals. They care deeply about the students—it’s clear that, here, students are at the center of everything. This matches my philosophy, experience and personality.

On This Year’s Priorities

AE: What are you thinking about as you begin your first year as dean?
MT: I see three priorities that naturally support one another. The first is strengthening research and creative activity. I want to help our very talented faculty succeed by encouraging interdisciplinary collaborations and degrees, expanding external funding, and creating an environment where ambitious ideas thrive. The second priority involves student success and enrollment growth. Every student should have opportunities to engage with faculty beyond the classroom—whether through deep learning, research, internships or field experiences. And third, we will enhance graduate education. Graduate students are essential partners in research, teaching and innovation. We must think of them as the scientific workforce of the future; their impact will affect the whole nation.

On Enhancing Graduate Education

AE: You have a lot of experience mentoring doctoral students. How will you draw on that experience here?
MT: Yes, at my previous institution, we created five new PhD tracks. We did this by studying the market and asking students what they needed to support their professional goals. In recent years, much of the focus has been interdisciplinary. I also experienced this when I served as a program director for the National Science Foundation (NSF). My division at NSF, mathematical sciences, worked proactively with directors from physics, chemistry, computer science and other disciplines. We’re seeing this kind of collaboration nationwide, and it serves our students.

AE: So we can expect an emphasis on interdisciplinary work and experiential learning.
MT: Exactly. We will pursue connections with industry and national labs. The sky is the limit! We have a lot to explore together.

In Her Spare Time

AE: What else would you like to share about yourself?
MT: In my free time, I love to read science and learn about new technological advances, especially in the natural sciences, scientific computing and machine learning. My hobbies are linked to my work, and they mesh well together! I enjoy an active lifestyle and strive to get 10,000 steps a day, which connects with my desire to explore CNAS facilities and meet with faculty and students in their own environments. I love talking to students; they keep me young. And really, everybody here is young, no matter how old they are! From our freshmen to our senior faculty, people here have a youthful spirit. They care about the students and strive for the best in everything they do. It’s just like I said—it was the people who drew me here.