Graduate of Colorado State University’s College of Liberal Arts Receives Honor Alumnus Award

The president and creative director of an award-winning graphic design firm will receive Colorado State University’s Honor Alumnus Award

at the university’s Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner on April 26. The award is presented by the university’s Alumni Association.

Roy Toma, president of Toma & Associates, is a native of Hawaii who grew up in Colorado. He graduated with a bachelor’s in graphic communications from the College of Liberal Arts at Colorado State, where he also majored in education and business. He taught art at the university and was head of the photography department at Community College in Denver before founding Toma & Associates in 1975. The company’s clients include major American and Japanese museums, galleries and other institutions.

"Roy’s service to the college and university has been remarkable," said Robert Hoffert, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. "Twice he has hosted our Great Conversation series in Denver. He has played a critical role in building CSU’s ties with and strong presence at the Denver Art Museum, and his devotion to the Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition program has been extraordinary.

"Perhaps most of all, he is a tireless ambassador for Colorado State University in the Denver art and business communities."

Phil Risbeck, chairman of the Department of Art, noted that Toma has given generously to the Founding Faculty Scholarship Fund and has donated time, expertise and material to help lay out and produce various publications. He also regularly lectures to graphic design students and reviews and critiques student portfolios.

"He believes that the arts offer an important avenue toward mutual respect between cultures and peoples of the world," said Linny Frickman, director of the Hatton Gallery at Colorado State. "He believes that excellent design can be a key toward enabling understanding and that he has responsibility as a citizen and artist to meet these needs.

"I am inspired by his talents, his kindness to the university, his vision and his devotion to the visual arts," Frickman said.