Toman Returns to Lead School of Professional Studies

Dr. Gina Toman, with extensive higher education experience, is now Dean of Professional Studies at Peru State College, focusing on faculty support, student services, and college growth.

(Peru, Nebraska) Dr. Gina Toman, the new Dean for the School of Professional Studies at Peru State College, is no stranger to higher education in Nebraska, nor to Nebraska’s first college.

Toman began her appointment on July 1. She came from Clarkson College where she served as Director of Healthcare Education and Clarkson’s Leadership Doctoral Program from 2020.

“She has a lot of varied experience in higher education, including working for Peru State College, which will be instrumental in her mentoring of faculty and overseeing the growth of professional studies programs,” said Dr. Wendy Waugh, Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Peru State’s Graduate Center Director in the early 2000s, Toman provided administrative and instructional support to faculty and facilitated all academic and graduate student services.

Toman stated, “I am thrilled to return to the “Campus of a Thousand Oaks” as Dean of the School of Professional Studies. I look forward to embracing the rich history of Nebraska’s first college while contributing to its impressive mission, vision, and values. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and champion the faculty, staff, and students. I am excited to support and work with the faculty scholars in the various majors as we transform student lives through innovative, empowering, and engaging educational opportunities.”

While at Clarkson, Toman led and managed a department, and oversaw budget matters and faculty workload. She was responsible for curriculum and program development, faculty and student resources, and strategic planning. She also guided doctoral students through the curriculum and their dissertation journey and taught several courses.

Before joining Clarkson College, Toman worked at the University of Nebraska at Omaha for over 10 years in various roles. She was Assistant to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and a Faculty Human Resources Officer ensuring compliance with policies and procedures. In addition, she served as the Assistant Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. Toman was Dean of Students at Nebraska Methodist College and worked as an adjunct faculty member at Creighton University and the College of St. Mary. She has years of community and institutional involvement including chairing the Board of Directors for the Women’s Center for Advancement in the greater Omaha metro. She received a bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University, a Master's in Higher Education from Syracuse University, a Certificate of Advanced Study in Higher Education from the University of Maine, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration and Leadership from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“Dr. Paul Hinrichs graciously assumed the interim Dean role last fall in addition to being the Dean of Arts and Sciences, while we searched for a new dean,” Waugh said. “Dr. Hinrichs did a great job of leading the school through a successful academic year; however, we are very excited to be filling the dean position with such a talented and qualified candidate in Dr. Toman.”

Toman also noted, “I am especially thankful to Dr. Wendy Waugh, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Dean Search Committee for this incredible opportunity to join the Peru State College community. Through my role as Dean, I am eager to support and collaborate with Dr. Waugh and the Academic Affairs team as we help Nebraska’s first college continue to thrive, educate, serve, and excel for the next 150+ years.”

Peru State’s School of Professional Studies offers majors and minors in business, psychology, and criminal justice, emphasizing practical applications. The school emphasizes the skills that graduates will acquire, providing them with a competitive edge in the workplace, in addition to knowledge.