The 10th Presidential Inauguration of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences on Sept. 9 celebrated Professor Toyin Tofade, the first Black woman to lead the College in its 142-year history, and reflected her commitment to leadership and service.
The ceremony at the Albany Capital Center began as ACPHS students lined up, stationary, on one side of an escalator leading to the Inauguration venue, cheering as President Tofade and her procession literally rose on the moving stairway to initiate the occasion. The moment set the stage for an enthusiastic and at times heartwarming tribute to the president, which also included her vision for the College. She called for collaborative efforts to ensure a bright future and growth for the College as well as pharmacy and health sciences in the Capital Region.
“If the idea of serving a higher purpose appeals to you, I invite you to join me along this journey. Together we’ll work to solve problems that change the world,” said President Tofade, who joined ACPHS in July 2022. “Our success will not solely be about me as your president. It is about all of us—a community of dedicated individuals committed to leadership, service and the betterment of society. We must strive for intentional collaboration that benefits ACPHS as well as the community around us.”
President Tofade shared some of her specific thoughts about the future of academics at ACPHS, which include more online programs and adopting new technologies for the classroom, including augmented reality and gaming science.
The invocation was delivered by the President’s husband, Alfred Bisi Tofade, a trained pharmacist as well as general overseer and chairman of Jubilee Christian Church International, North America.
ACPHS students contributed to the event as well. A campus musical group, Students Performing Arts in the Healthcare Community, performed the national anthem and an a capella version of the school’s alma mater. Following the official ceremony, cakes baked by ACPHS pharmacy doctoral candidate Morgan Gerber ’24 were served during the reception.
Hundreds of people attended the weekends’ festivities, including students, faculty, staff, board members, community leaders, and family and friends from other states and Canada. The weekend began with a symposium on Modeling Leadership and Service for the Community on Friday, Sept. 8, featuring local and national leaders at the ACPHS campus. Those themes continued to ring through the Inauguration ceremony on Saturday, as speakers lauded President Tofade’s commitment to those values, as well as the traits that characterize her personal leadership style.
Some of their comments are noted below.
On the historic moment of inaugurating ACPHS’ first Black woman president:
“President Tofade is to academic pharmacy what Barack Obama is to America: great possibilities. Hope, hope, hope.” -- Dr. Johnnie L. Early II, Dean and Professor, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Florida A&M University
“Women’s contribution is an insistence on breaking the mold rather than filling it in.” -- Marcia White, President, The College of St. Rose
On President Tofade’s character and leadership:
“She’s steady, calm, committed to resolution, offering her very best. … This light that lives within her, she sees in all of us, and she’s committed to serve that light.” -- Phylicia Rashad, Dean, Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, Howard University
“Your appointment to this prestigious college is in recognition of the leadership characteristics you have exhibited in your previous appointments.” -- Ambassador Lot Peter Egopija, Consul General of Nigeria in New York
“I like the way you assume the leadership and show the force, and yet with a sense of humility.” -- Paul Tonko, U.S. Congressman
“She is working to raise the profession of pharmacy.” -- John MacDonald ’84, pharmacist and New York State Assemblyman
General thoughts on leadership, from Friday’s symposium:
“At its basic level, leadership is about solving problems. At the end of the day, I look for someone who’s willing to do the work to solve the problems that they have.” -- Dennis McKenna, President and CEO, Albany Med Health System
“Never let school interfere with your education. Don’t pass up other opportunities to grow as a professional.” -- Lucinda Maine, Retired Executive Vice President and CEO, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
“My biggest failure was assimilating. … I was dressing a certain way, talking a certain way, doing a certain thing that I thought I needed to do to get ahead. That is a failure. I would encourage students to not assimilate.” -- Walter Thorne, Market President and Publisher, Albany Business Review
“People who are in leadership roles behave badly sometimes. … Stand up to leadership.” -- Cinnamon Piñon Carlarne, President and Dean, Albany Law School
Other messages sent by video are available for viewing, as is a video of the full event.
Students cheer as President Tofade makes her way to the Inauguration venue.
Students Performing in the Healthcare Community performed for the ceremony.
Cakes baked by pharmacy doctoral candidate Morgan Gerber '24.
ACPHS Board Member Dr. Leigh Briscoe-Dwyer, Dr. Johnnie L. Early II, President Tofade, Dr. Lucinda Maine, Marcia White and Phylicia Rashad.