Dr. Gregory Tomso is the new president of St. Cloud State University. The Virginia native most recently served as the Vice President for Academic Engagement and Student Affairs at the University of West Florida.
Read this Q&A with Tomso to learn more about SCSU’s new Head Husky.
Which do you prefer, coffee or tea?
Tea. I love tea from all over the world and have a daily teatime around 10 a.m. It’s a chance to center my thoughts, have conversations and focus on my work.
Do you collect anything?
I love ceramics. If you visit my home, you’d find a large collections of pots and vases.
Do you have a hidden talent?
Making pottery. I had my own studio in Florida for many years.
What game show could you win?
“The Worst Dancer” or “The Worst Singer”.
Who are your favorite musicians?
Peter Bradley Adams and Joshua Hyslop are folk singers I’m listening to right now. I also like older folk music like Simon and Garfunkel or Indigo Girls, but I also veer into classic rock or Madonna.
What never fails to make you laugh?
My husband Conor. I love that he can always make me laugh and be silly. I also never fail to laugh at myself; I feel like you have to have laughter in your life and relationships.
Savory or sweet?
That’s impossible to answer since I like both. But cake is my favorite food group.
What’s your favorite book?
I’ll give you three that changed me the most – “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison, “The Wings of the Dove” by Henry James and “The Country of the Pointed Firs” by Sarah Orne Jewett.
Where would you travel?
I’m fortunate to have done a lot of travel in leading study abroad trips for nearly 30 years, and I’ve had life changing experiences in many different countries. Right now, I’m really interested in South Korea.
What academic work are you most proud of?
I did a lot of research around the disease HIV, and I looked at it as a cultural entity, not a biological one. I tracked the stigma around it and how perceptions of disease can shape science and public policy. I’m very happy that I was able to make contributions that were lasting in the field.
How many pets do you have?
We have two amazing Maine Coons, Julian and Sylvie, which are large breed cats. We have a third cat named Minnie Mouse who is very dear to us. She was a rescue and needs a lot of love.
How did they get their names?
We brought home a brother and sister from the same litter, and we wanted to live with the cats for as long as it took for a name that felt right. They have distinct personalities and are pretty regal looking and reserved. The girl is named Sylvie, which felt like an older name with layers of culture. The boy is Julian. He has a will of his own and the name felt princely. Minnie Mouse got her name because she’s on the small side, and we started calling her our “miniature mouser.”
What’s your favorite TV show?
I will watch any sci-fi show that is streaming. I also love dark and gloomy murder mysteries set in remote European landscapes.
Your signature look is the bow tie. How did that start?
Bow ties were actually very common at the University of Virginia, but I didn’t embrace the fad there. It wasn’t until I was the director of the honors program at University of West Florida and I was doing a lot of recruiting, public events and teaching. I ran out of time to decide what to wear, so I decided to start wearing a white shirt, dark dress pants and different bow tie each day.
How many bowties do you own?
I’d say about 25. For my interview at SCSU, I called a custom bow tie maker in New England and ordered a custom silk red and black Husky bow tie. It’s my new favorite.
Do you have any nicknames?
At UWF, everybody called me “Dr. T.” People that I hadn’t met on campus still knew me as “the guy in the bowtie.”
What’s your favorite food?
I never get tired of eating Indian food, especially Buttered Chicken and lentils. I’m a passionate cook and big foody. I think I make the best Buttered Chicken outside of New Delhi, but I’m ready for challenges to that claim.
Favorite activity to try this winter?
We’re really excited about cross-country skiing. It’s been over 20 years since I was on Nordic skis in Ithaca, New York, but we’re ready to try.
