Overview
Since joining Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in July 2022, President Tofade has shepherded a period of transformation that has established a strong foundation for its future, including:
- Crafting a bold new vision for the College which led to the development and launch of a new strategic plan roadmap in January 2024.
- Implementing the College’s inaugural online portfolio, ACPHS Online, in March 2024
- Building a high-performing leadership team backed up by SMART metrics
- Creating a leadership program for aspiring leaders
- Encouraging entrepreneurial practices throughout the institution
- Restructuring the academic unit to best position the College for continued growth and success.
In her tenure, enrollment process and practice changes resulted in increases in total applications of 18.58%, total deposits of 35.03% and transfers by 714.29% as of July 2024; PharmD year one deposits increased by 210% over the prior year; and industrial fellowship positions for recent graduates doubled.
The College also experienced the largest expansion of programs since its inception with seven new programs approved by the Board of Regents for permanent offerings during 2024 alone. The new programs include a bachelor’s in health sciences, psychology, clinical psychology, forensic science and biology, as well as an online master’s in biomedical sciences and a hybrid master in cytotechnology and molecular cytology.
Positive testimonies of the student experience have increased tremendously as reflected in stories and media publications of current students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Also, under her leadership, the College celebrated two national championships in men’s track & field and women’s soccer.
Heightened awareness of the College has resulted in additional partnerships locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Experience
Prior to her appointment as ACPHS President in July 2022, Toyin Tofade served as the dean and professor at the Howard University College of Pharmacy in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Tofade also served in multiple roles at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) in Baltimore including associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science and associate director and assistant dean of the Experiential Learning Program. She served as a pharmacist and a clinical specialist in the general medicine service at University of North Carolina (UNC) hospitals as well as director of pharmacotherapy services at the Wake Area Health Education Center (AHEC).
Pharmacy Leadership
Dr. Tofade was appointed in 2020 as president-elect of the International Pharmacy Federation (FIP) academic pharmacy section, a global federation representing over five million pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. She is the first Black female to serve as president of the academic section in its 50-plus years of existence. In 2018, she was the first Black woman to be named an FIP Fellow, recognizing her for exhibiting strong leadership internationally, distinguished pharmaceutical sciences and/or practice of pharmacy, and contributions to the advancement of pharmaceutical sciences and/or practice of pharmacy.
On the national front, she was elected as a member of the board for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in 2020 and has participated on a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion task forces nationally. Dr. Tofade facilitated meetings with industry leaders and participated in pharmacy coalition meetings to advance provider status in the District of Columbia.
Awards, Recognition and SErvice
She has been awarded numerous honors including:
- President Tofade has been recognized by the Albany Business Review as Power 50 executive two consecutive years, including on its inaugural All Women’s List.
- She supports a variety of boards through membership in St. Peter’s Health Partners, the Council for Independent Colleges and Universities, the Center for Economic Growth, WMHT, and Capitalize Albany.
- The American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) 2022 Board of Directors Donald E. Francke Medal which honors pharmacists who have made significant international contributions to advance pharmacy practice.
- The University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy 2021 Pharmacy Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award.
- The 2020 A. Richard Bliss Jr. Grand Council Citation of Appreciation Award given by Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Inc.
- The 2019 Fred M. Eckel Pharmacy Leadership Award from UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and UNC Hospitals for demonstrating sustained professional contributions to pharmacy practice throughout her career.
- A 2018 Distinguished Service Award in appreciation for leadership in pharmacy education and presentation at the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americans, Inc. (NAPPSA) Scientific Conference.
Education
Dr. Tofade received a bachelor’s in pharmacy (BPharm) from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, as well as a master’s in pharmacy practice and a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from UNC at Chapel Hill. She received a certificate of public leadership from Harvard Kennedy School. She completed a residency with emphasis on clinical pharmacokinetics from UNC Chapel Hill and an ASHP-accredited residency at UNC hospitals. She is a certified coactive coach and completed the Academic Leadership Academy from the Academic Leadership Institute at Penn State and the Management Development Program from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
