About Mary C. Toale

The State University of New York has appointed Mary C. Toale, SUNY Geneseo’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs since March 2024, as the officer-in-charge at SUNY Geneseo, effective August 25.  Her appointment follows the departure of President Denise A. Battles, who has led SUNY Geneseo with distinction for a decade, and will ensure the stability and continuity of leadership as SUNY concludes its nationwide search for the next president in the coming weeks and anticipates welcoming the next president later this fall.

A first-generation college student athlete and Pell Grant recipient, Toale has over 25 years of experience in teaching, service, and leadership in higher education. Her career reflects a deep commitment to access, academic excellence, institutional effectiveness,  and preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving world. She is known for her strategic planning and collaborative leadership, having spearheaded initiatives that promote holistic development and shared governance. Prior to joining Geneseo, Toale held executive roles at SUNY Oswego, including deputy to the president for strategy and planning and officer in charge, and served in faculty and leadership positions at  West Virginia Wesleyan College and Baldwin Wallace University.

A dedicated educator and scholar, Toale has been a professor of communication studies and contributed extensively to the field through publications, presentations, and professional service. She is a Distinguished Teaching Fellow and a Distinguished Service  Award recipient of the Eastern Communication Association, and she has participated in national leadership programs. Toale holds a doctoral degree in instructional communication, a master’s degree in communication theory and research from West Virginia University, and a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in secondary mathematics education from West Virginia Wesleyan College.