Tomova named new provost of Augusta University

By Rodrigo Burgos-Avila | Editor in chief

Professor Maggy Tomova has been appointed as the new executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at Augusta University.

Tomova will begin as AU provost on July 1.

She currently serves as dean of the College of Sciences and vice provost for Strategic Initiatives at the University of Central Florida, a Carnegie Research 1 university with more than $229 million in sponsored research funding and a student body of nearly 70,000.

UCF is recognized as a top-25 university for patent production and holds the Carnegie Community Engagement classification.

At UCF, Tomova led initiatives that improved student outcomes and expanded research activity. As vice provost, she helped raise the university’s four-year graduation rate from 54 percent in 2023 to 62 percent for the 2024–25 academic year. As Dean, she oversaw 16,000 students and guided the college to increase its graduation rate to nearly 70 percent since 2021. During the same period, the college’s research expenditures grew from $18 million to $33 million.

Tomova holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and biochemistry from California Lutheran University, an MBA with a finance concentration from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a doctoral degree in mathematics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

“Dr. Tomova is a transformative leader who has a track record of success in many of our strategic areas of focus at Augusta University,” wrote AU President Russell T. Keen in an email.

Tomova has also worked at the University of Iowa and Rice University. She was chair of mathematics and associate dean for Natural, Mathematical and Social Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Science at Iowa.

Until July 1, Dr. Jennifer Sullivan, dean of the Graduate School, will continue serving as AU’s interim provost.

Before Sullivan became interim provost, Neil MacKinnon served a provost until last summer. He is now president of Central Michigan University.

Note: At the top of the page is newly hired AU Provost Maggy Tomova, who comes from the University of Central Florida. She begins at AU on July 1. (photo courtesy of UCF)

Contact editor in chief Rodrigo Burgos-Avila at rburgosavila@augusta.edu.