August of 2011 opened a brand new chapter in Kean University administrative leadership. Dr. Jeffrey Toney, the former Dean of the College of Natural, Applied and Health Sciences, now holds the position of Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA

Toney's face may be a familiar one to students, even if they are not familiar with his position as dean. Kean XchangeVPAAgaugesVPAA

In January, Toney shared with the campus the proactive measures that he and over 200 others have been taking since the start of the new year with achieving congruence in all Kean assessment endeavors. Those members make up every academic and non-academic unit at Kean.

Blogging is not foreign to Toney; in fact, the medium is one he has embraced for years. Toney regularly blogs with ScienceBlogs

"Online social media has revolutionized the sharing of information, how students learn and how communities organize," wrote Toney in the launch blog of VPAA

Toney enters the VPAA

As dean, Toney worked closely with vice presidents' offices to execute program initiatives; and not merely those strictly academic based. The Fit to Be Kean fitness program was one Toney collaborated on with the Vice President of Student Affairs, Janice Murray-Laury

Toney continues to teach courses, even though it is not required in the vice president position. "I love teaching," shares a smiling Toney. "I am currently teaching a chemistry senior seminar. This is my favorite class to teach because I get to see students utilize everything they have learned throughout their college career and apply it [in the course]."

In addition to teaching, Toney is continuing his mentorship with independent study students in their science-based research. As a mentor, Toney have facilitated 55 research students, and boasts a two-third outcome of those students entering either professional or graduate school. He still keeps in contact with many of them as a mentor.