Science dean expects growth in coming years

By Roger Ruvolo

In 2018, Thomas Horvath, an aquatic ecologist, was looking to repatriate from Europe when he spotted an associate dean job opening at Cal State Monterey Bay. That job not only proved to be a good fit but also eventually led to his becoming the dean of the College of Science in January, after serving a year and a half as interim dean.  

Horvath received his doctorate from Notre Dame in 1997. He served as professor of limnology and environmental sciences director at the State University of New York before taking a position at Rhineland Palatinate Technical University in Landau, Germany, where he managed the natural and environmental sciences faculty. 

Horvath heads a college with about 50 full-time teaching staff and around 90 lecturers. Altogether, they serve more than 2,600 students.   

Question: How has the college changed under your leadership? 

Answer: When I took on the interim-dean role (July 2023), we were reacting to a budget shortfall. We’re fortunate to have a good team of deans here at CSUMB.  Working with that group to get through the budget process helped get us quickly back on solid footing. 

The College of Science is the largest college at CSUMB. Part of the interest is because the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects have a clearer career trajectory. 

The other thing we’ve been working on is shared governance, allowing people a chance to have a voice in the college’s decision-making. 

Q: What are the strengths of the College of Science? 

A: Universities are people organizations. I’m happy to say our strength is our people – focused on student success. Our faculty is doing amazing research with our students, and in partnership with our Sponsored Programs Office, seeking out grant money.

We punch above our weight in terms of bringing in external funds. 

Q: What kinds of programs does CSUMB offer that are unique or hard to otherwise find?

A: One example is our new mechatronics engineering program. Only two campuses in all of the CSU offer it. Our marine sciences are second to none. You can study marine sciences in many places, but you can’t study next to a National Marine Sanctuary (operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) as you can here. And we have the largest university diving program in the country.

Our environmental sciences programs connect to our regional agencies. That’s woven into the DNA of CSUMB. Our agricultural plant and soil science program is there because we are responding to our area producers’ needs. 

Q: As a research university, what are some of the areas where you see CSUMB contributing to scientific knowledge?

A: We’re best when we’re doing applied sciences. Our students and faculty are responding to needs in the area, the state and beyond. We’re very good at building broad coalitions of partners. That relationship component is very important and shows the entrepreneurial character of the college. 

Q: What are the areas of greatest focus for you right now?

A: Creating new space for students and faculty.  We’re short of space. 

The Edward “Ted” Taylor Science and Engineering Building will help there. Construction has just begun. That will house marine sciences and mechatronics. 

In addition, we have in the concept stage a new greenhouse complex and teaching-research farm. The way we teach students is changing; it’s much more hands-on. And for that, specialized space is important. 

Q: Three years from now, where do you expect to see the college?

A: That, because of the strength of our academic programs, we will be more of a first-choice school. Our marine sciences programs already attract people from all over the world; I’d like to see that for all our programs. I hope we'll be seen as the go-to partner in the region for economic development.