Toyia Younger

As Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at Iowa State University, Dr. Toyia Younger oversees a wide array of programs and initiatives designed to support students both inside and outside the classroom. With over 30,000 students, Iowa State is a thriving Research 1 institution with a strong focus on science, technology, and agriculture. 

Dr. Younger’s career journey – from Capitol Hill to Higher Education (HE) – offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in student affairs. In this interview, she sat down with Jack Eagle, Co-host of The Interview, to share insights into fostering belonging, supporting student mental wellbeing, and encouraging innovation on campus.

Toyia’s Journey

‍Jack: Let’s start with an introduction to yourself and your institution.

My name is Dr. Toyia Younger, and I have the privilege of serving as the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at Iowa State University. Iowa State is located not only right in the middle of Iowa but right in the heart of the United States. We are a large Research 1 university with a focus on science and technology. Our engineering programs are incredibly strong, and we’re also leading the way in agriculture. Currently, we have exactly 30,432 students.

Jack: Where did your career start, and how did you get to where you are now?

I started my career in policy on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. I’ve always been into politics – what a whirlwind it can be – and it was a fantastic experience. But I knew it wasn’t where I wanted to stay forever. Speaking with a mentor, they said, “Think back to the best times of your life, the moments that really excited you.” I was 24 at the time, so the best years of my life were from college. I’d been the kind of student who was super engaged in everything. When I started exploring career paths, I realized I could go back and work on a college campus full-time. I knew I wouldn’t have finished college if it weren’t for everything I was involved in, and I wanted to ensure other students – regardless of their their background or experiences – had the same opportunities to succeed.

Jack: A big part of Student Affairs is looking at the student experience outside of the classroom. What are your big topic areas this year?

Creating a welcoming environment is always a priority. Many of our students come from rural Iowa – small towns. Coming here is a huge deal for them, and it can be overwhelming. We focus a lot on the freshman experience – welcoming them, teaching them traditions – but we realized we weren’t reaching all students when they returned in the fall. Without formalized programming, many students turned to off-campus parties. This led us to create Cyclone Welcome Weekend, a program designed for all students, not just first-years. With events for everyone, we’ve seen more students choosing campus activities over off-campus parties. It’s all about ensuring every student feels welcome.

Jack: There are a lot of different types of students nowadays. How do you seek to reach out to different groups within your institution’s large student body?

Intentionality is key. I always keep my ear to the ground. I have a Student Affairs Advisory Board of 30 students that I meet with monthly. I’m very intentional about who’s on the board – every college is represented, from freshmen to veterinary school students, and we include a range of racial backgrounds, sexual orientations – you name it. It can be tempting to assume what students need, but we pause to gather information first. We have a unique student body, and we need to meet their needs in thoughtful ways without making assumptions.

‍Jack: Student mental wellbeing is a big topic right now. How do you try to reach out to students on that?

Covid threw everything into a tailspin. When students returned, we saw a significant increase in counseling needs – our center felt more like a crisis center than a counseling center. To keep up, we added 24/7 online support, but we wanted to go further. That initial effort grew into Cyclone Support, a comprehensive program for mental health and wellbeing. Cyclone Support now includes a website where students can identify their struggles, and it populates all relevant resources for them. It’s grown into a campus-wide initiative with dedicated staff, faculty training, and a physical center for students.

Jack: We often talk about innovation in the sector, especially in terms of engaging students. What is your approach to that?

I always encourage my staff to think innovatively. My pet peeve is hearing, “We’ve always done it this way.” Having worked at several institutions, I’ve seen what’s possible. Many people here are from Iowa, so their vision is sometimes limited to “how we’ve always done things.” But we have students from all over the world, so we can’t afford to think so linearly. Our Student Innovation Center launched a couple of years ago and has been home to incredible projects. It’s also a space where students come together to collaborate and create. I often remind my staff that we need to emulate the spirit of that space – always pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas.

Jack: What is the best piece of advice you’ve received in your career?

Be authentic. I think back to my own student experience and consider what was missing and how I can bring that to the table now. If we’re going to serve our students, we have to reflect on what we needed ourselves when we were in their shoes. Staying true to that keeps me authentic in everything I do.