Toyin Tofade (MS, PharmD, BCPPS, CPCC, FFIP) is the 10th president of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She started this role in July 2022 after serving as the Dean and a professor at Howard University College of Pharmacy (HUCOP) in Washington, DC, from August 2016 to June 2022. During her tenure at HUCOP, the College experienced tremendous growth in terms of educational outcomes, student enrollments, student internships, fellowships, industrial and international partnerships, and alumni relationships. Toyin Tofade is a distinguished educator and leader in pharmacy education who has contributed to the advancement of the pharmaceutical science field and the practice of pharmacy globally. She is a fellow of the International Pharmacy Federation (FIP) and the president of the FIP academic pharmacy section. Also, in 2020, she was appointed as the chair-elect of the council of deans for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
Toyin Tofade received a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. She also obtained Master of Science in Pharmacy Practice and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a certified professional coactive coach, graduate of the Academic Leadership Academy, Penn State University, the Management Development Program, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the Crises Leadership in Higher Education, Harvard Kennedy School.
1. What was the biggest challenge you faced in your career? How did you overcome that?
The biggest challenge in my career was when I was student at UNC Chapel Hill. I did not have deep pockets or family members to pay for college. As an international student, I did not qualify for loans. So, I took exams to become a licensed pharmacist and got a job, where I worked 32 hours a week, while I was a full-time student. I am very grateful for my supervisor who was flexible with my schedule to allow me to work and complete my studies. I graduated at the top of my class and I am grateful to God for the outcome.
2. What role did your background play in who you are today?
I was born in Africa, where children are taught to respect the elders and be kind. My parents taught me the values of faith and integrity - that was big in our household. My dad was a former dean and professor. I was taught good family values, the principle of hard work, and the importance of producing excellent work and being humble about who you are. Those are foundations that I hold near and dear to my heart, as well as faith and service. I enjoy serving other people - that is germane to who I am today. Serving students, colleagues, and organizations is the mentality that I bring to work and it helps me to be authentic.
3. Can you share your mentorship journey with us?
I am grateful for the people in my life who have mentored me - supervisors and others who have taken interest in me. I remember one colleague I met at a conference in Croatia after I had just been appointed as a Dean at Howard. She was as a system leader in Australia. She stayed for one hour after the conference session to speak with me. Then she volunteered to meet with me every month and we would talk about things that were important to growing in our profession. I have learned to make myself available to other people and listen to people’s dreams to connect them, and to help them make their dreams come true. I believe power grows the more you give it away. I enjoy meeting young leaders around the country through professional associations, and I strive to pay it forward by talking with them. It is a joy to do.
4. When you look back at your career, would you have done anything differently?
I was fortunate to have a mentor, a professor, who reviewed my CV and advised me that I needed to publish more if I wanted to be promoted. It allowed me the opportunity to focus on some things that I had not been doing that were required to take the next step.
5. What message would you like to give to young professionals and women in the pharmaceutical sciences field?
Believe in yourself, do great work, do not let anyone put you down, make sure you have mentors. Smile and be happy with yourself because we are our own worst enemy sometimes. And build good relationships, that is very important.