About Toby Hopper
Toby Hopper has made an incredible impact on women in her professional career and continues to have an impact during her retirement sponsoring the Toby Hopper Endowed Scholarship for Single Mothers. Having accomplished three quarters of her goals as a single mother of five (now accomplished) children, she knows the challenges women face trying to better their lots.

More specifically, she has made a significant impact on the adult learner population. When you meet Toby you feel completely at home and feel like you have been given the privilege of meeting with a humble sage that is there just for you. She couches her wisdom in common sense and a strong sense of justice. Toby exudes enthusiasm for life and more specifically for helping women better themselves. It’s just wonderful to see a shooting star years later that you knew would make something of themselves. Her eyes just glow when speaking of the past and the students she saw grow and flourish under her tutelage.

Toby is a visionary with a fighting spirit for the needs of the underdog. In her tenure at Kennesaw College she was always a strong student advocate of all populations. Her leadership as Dean of Student Development provided substantive advocacy for disabled students and adult learners. Her path ran with a bridge between academic affairs and student services; serving as Assistant Academic Dean under Dr. Sturgis from 1974 - 1978. When asked by Dr. Sturgis why she wanted to be a dean, she replied, I don’t want to be a dean. I want to be in a position that gives me an opportunity to serve more students and have an impact, and an impact she has made!! That spunk provided many new services and opportunities for our student body. She has dynamic, devil may care attitude about the status quo and what people may think of her progressive ideas. Do not interpret it as arrogance because that is the last character trait you would use in describing Toby; it is more of an intentional focusing of what's important. And Toby will tell you what’s really important: Life is about relating to people honestly and warmly.

It was Toby’s insight and assertiveness that initiated the very first Lifelong Learning Center a place for adult students to belong. When giving her a compliment for her impact she simply replied, You stay at one place long enough and you will stick your nose where there is a blank. She knew that adult students and especially women had a need for a designated space just for them to commiserate or to encourage. She met with a student named Jo in the old Social Sciences building and answered her request for anything, a broom closet. Going to Dr. Siegel, she got what she needed and what would be the beginning of a significant contribution for adult students at KSU.

Selection Criteria

• Single, non-traditional females who provide major financial support for their custodial children
• Pursuing a degree in Teacher Education
• Graduate or undergraduate student
• Academic promise in at least 12 semester credit hours
• 2.75 or better cumulative GPA for undergraduate
• 3.00 or better cumulative GPA for graduate
• Must maintain a course load of at least 12 credit hours per semester

Apply here

If you have any questions, please contact:
Mr. R. Todd Powell, Assistant Director
Adult Learner Programs
1000 Chastain Road, Mailbox #0502
Kennesaw, GA 30144
770-499-3144