Posted: November 19, 2025
Contact: Noelle Hawton, Noelle.Hawton@MinnState.edu, 651-728-8156
ST. PAUL, Minn., November 19, 2025 – The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named Gregory Tomso to serve as president of St. Cloud State University. The appointment will be effective January 5, 2026.
“Dr. Tomso has the vision, experience and leadership skills to lead St. Cloud State University into a bright future,” said Scott Olson, chancellor of Minnesota State. “Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the success of students, to partnering with faculty and staff, and to building strong relationships with the community. He has a clear and inspiring vision for St. Cloud State and I look forward to seeing the university flourish under his leadership.”
Most recently, Dr. Tomso served as vice president of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs for the University of West Florida between 2021 and 2025, a regional public university serving nearly 15,000 students and 1,900 employees.
As vice president, he led a unit comprised of over 160 fulltime employees across 34 departments and programs. He focused on improving student success, increasing enrollment, creating a vibrant campus culture, and forging community partnerships. As a leader in change management, he conducted an extensive divisional self-study resulting in a five-year strategic plan prioritizing student well-being, academic success, experiential learning, civility/inclusion, and staff development, which resulted in significant gains in student retention and enrollment. He also established the Office of Workforce Development while at UWF and built new internships and partnerships with local employers and nonprofits.
From 2017 to 2021, he served as director for the Kugelman Honors Program at UWF, where he partnered with faculty across all colleges to develop new interdisciplinary seminars, study abroad programs, and new internship programs with multiple community partners. He also led a university committee to enhance high-impact learning that led to the establishment of the Office of Undergraduate Research.
Other engagements include serving UWF as chair of the English department (2014-2017) where he managed an academic unit of 20 full-time faculty and 30 adjunct faculty. He was a tenured professor of English at UWF from 2010 to 2025 and an assistant professor of English at UWF from 2004 to 2009. Prior to joining UWF, he was assistant professor of English at Ithaca College (NY) between 2001 and 2004.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and doctorate from Duke University.
Dr. Tomso will succeed Dr. Larry Dietz, who has served as interim president of St. Cloud State University since July 1, 2024.
About St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University serves more than 10,000 students, with a focus on individualized student support and a holistic approach to learning. SCSU prepares graduates to meet workforce demands with a focused academic portfolio that is responsive to real-world needs. The 100-acre campus is located about an hour northwest of Minneapolis along the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota. SCSU is leading into the future by serving a new generation of students with a focus on research and innovation, allowing students to apply their knowledge through experiential learning. Over 135,000 alumni continue to be changemakers throughout Minnesota and around the globe. Learn more about St. Cloud State University at www.stcloudstate.edu.
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Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 270,000 students. It is the third-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.