'Moving with Maggy, Part 2': Stepping out on Summerville Campus

Caelyn Dockal | News editor

Faculty, students and staff walk with the AU provost on the Summerville Campus. (photo by Caelyn Dockal)

On a slightly less chilly morning, the second “Moving with Maggy” walk continued, this time bringing the Augusta University community together on the Summerville Campus for another morning of conversation, connection and movement.

With clearer skies and slightly warmer temperatures, roughly 30 students, faculty and staff gathered, which was nearly double the attendance of the first event. What began as a small, informal opportunity to meet outside the office is quickly growing into a campus tradition.

Just like the first walk, there was no formal agenda. No meeting room. No slides. Just a group of people walking side by side, sharing ideas and getting to know one another beyond emails and scheduled appointments.

Maggy Tomova, the provost of Augusta University, described the second walk as energizing and encouraging.

“Fantastic. Beautiful weather. Beautiful walk, wonderful people to chat with. It’s great,” she said. “We got even more people, which was very exciting. I got to chat with people I haven’t had an opportunity to talk to one on one before, which was great.”

Moving with Maggie 2 meanders by the JSAC. (photo by Caelyn Dockal)

The increased turnout reflected a growing interest in the walk. While the first walk introduced the concept, of a more down to earth grounded meeting, the Summerville walk showed how quickly the idea of informal, down to earth meeting is spreading across campuses and becoming an opportunity for something more.

Tomova noted that the conversations happening during the walk were for more than just her but for others to get a chance to talk with other colleagues in an informal setting.

“I think these walks really help connect the community,” she said. “People talk a lot to each other, so it’s not just about me talking to people, it’s about people talking to other people that they haven’t had an opportunity to talk to before.”

As the group walked about campus sidewalks, much conversation formed and shifted naturally. Some participants paired off, some walked alone at times, while others joined larger groups, listening and contributing when they felt comfortable. 

This is a format that continues to be its defining trait that trademarks the event’s relaxed atmosphere.

Ben Smith, a business major, shakes hand with Provost Maggy Tomova. (photo by Caelyn Dockal)

One moment that stood out to Tomova was hearing firsthand about faculty commitment to student success.

“What stuck out today was how dedicated our faculty are to students and to student success,” she said.

The walk also welcomed student participation, something Tomova hopes will continue to grow. During the event, she spoke with a student named Ben, who shared that he originally planned to transfer but ultimately decided to stay at Augusta University.

Provost Tomova, Ben Smith and communication professor/Integrated Studies director Pam Hayward walk next to Walton Way. (photo by Caelyn Dockal)

“He came in planning to transfer and then decided he loves it, and he’s going to stay,” Tomova said. “He’s an example of a student we succeeded with who was not even planning to stay, and he stayed anyway, which just speaks to what a wonderful campus this is.”

For communication professor Amber Routh, the Summerville walk was her first time attending “Moving with Maggy,” and she was immediately struck by how many participated in the walk.

“I was surprised by what a huge turnout there was for the event,” Routh said. “There were students there, there were staff there, there were faculty there. I thought they did a great job getting the word out because there was a really wide variety of people.”

Routh emphasized that the event offered more than just an opportunity to meet the provost , that it created space for networking and collaboration.

“I met someone who does neurology research on the other campus,” she said. “I was able to tell them about some of the work that the neurologists are doing with stroke victim outreach that she didn’t know about, but actually aligns really closely with her research. So in walking with Maggie, I might have just helped a neurologist make a connection that they needed.”

Like many participants, Routh appreciated the informal structure of the walk. She said the act of walking made conversations feel more natural than traditional networking environments.

“When there’s an active thing that you’re supposed to be doing, like walking, it makes the conversation more natural,” she said. “It’s not awkward if you’re not talking to anybody, but you’re still walking in the group. It gives a lot of options for how the talking goes.”

Routh also used the event as an internship site visit, photographing a student intern capturing content for the Provost’s social media channels. She said the event provided both professional opportunities and a relaxed environment.

Provost Tomova and the walkers pose with the Augustus statue next to the JSAC. (photo by Caelyn Dockal)

Tomova closed with optimism about the future of the initiative.

“I love Moving with Maggie, so I hope we continue to do it and people continue to come and tell me everything I need to know in a relaxed environment,” she said.

The monthly walk continues to grow, offering a casual space for conversation, collaboration and community building across campus. 

As the walk came to a close, the sense of community mirrored the first event but with even more voices and connections. The continued growth suggests that “Moving with Maggy” is becoming more than just a monthly stroll. This event, it’s becoming a space where conversations spark ideas and relationships.

Tomova hopes the momentum continues.

With the next walk planned for May 4, the series keeps moving forward—one conversation, one connection and one step at a time.

Tomova is in her first year at AU provost. She began work on July 1, 2025, coming to Augusta from the University of Central Florida—where she served as dean of the UCF College of Sciences. Her doctoral degree in in mathematics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Note: At the top of the page, Maggy Tomova, AU provost, along with students and faculty, end the walk at the entrance to the Douglas Bernard Amphitheater.

Contact Caelyn Dockal at cadockal@augusta.edu.