Betty LaVergne Toman was born June 23, 1926 in Oak Park, Illinois. At the age of 3 she started to dance and a year later, she began dancing professionally; highlights included an appearance at the 1932 World’s Fair in Chicago, when she was 8 years old.

Professor Toman graduated from Morton High School in Cicero, Illinois. She received a B.A. (1948) in Physical Education (Dance) from the University of Wisconsin, where she studied under Margaret H’Doubler, credited as the creator of dance education. She received her M.S. (1957) from Iowa State College (University).

The Head of the Department of Physical Education for Women, Germaine G. Guiot, brought her to Iowa State College (University), as a dance instructor (1948-1952). She was Assistant Professor (1952-1957), Associate Professor (1957-1964) and Professor and Dance Coordinator (1964-1988) in the Department of Physical Education. Professor Toman was named Distinguished Professor (1984). In 1988, she became Distinguished Emeritus Professor.

Although dance was first taught in 1928 at Iowa State, Professor Toman developed and implemented all aspects of the dance program, and accomplished her goal of creating a dance option major in the Department of Physical Education in 1966. She became synonymous with the modern dance concert Barjche (pronounced bar-shay). Barjche’s name is from combined the first few letter of three students who presented the first concert (1944): Barbara Sgarlat Drexler, Charlotte Ann Stuart, and Jean Ringoen Williams. Under Professor Toman’s 22-year direction, Barjche evolved to utilize the talents of students in three departments: theater, dance, and music. She also was the Director of the Iowa State University Dance Tour Company, and advisor to the dancers of Stars Over VEISHEA, Iowa State University’s student-run festival theather production. She also advised Orchesis, a dance club that was originally formed in 1926 and took its current name the year Professor Toman took over as advisor (1965). Later, Professor Toman developed Orchesis II. As an additional program to the original Orchesis, it allows more students of varying dance skills to participate in a dance concert.

Professor Toman served in leadership positions in several national organizations, including: National Dance Association (NDA); American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (AAHPER); Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (IAHPER).

Professor Toman wrote and presented extensively for professional publications and schools, and co-directed four films on movement and design. Her major choreographic works include: Mitosis, Opus 24, Through the AgesEL, The Last Dance, In the Beginning, Operation Jazz, A Motherless Child, and Dream World.

Professor Toman served on four major Iowa State University committees: Focus, 1974-1977; Public Events Committee, 1974-1988; Alvin Edgar Fund for Performing Arts, 1974-1988; and the Resident Review Committee, 1982-1988.

Professor Toman received numerous awards, including the Honor Award by the Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (IAHPER) in 1967 and Outstanding Professor by Iowa State in 1969. In 1972, the Iowa State Alumni Association awarded her with a Faculty Citation. She is also listed in both Who’s Who of American Women and Who’s Who of Women in Education.

Many professional dancers and instructors were her students, including Stephen Pier, Valerie Williams (who created Dance Co’Motion, Ames, Iowa), Vernon Windsor, the late Pete Pedersen, Nancy Moses, Marcia McGinnis, Paul Zmolek, and Robert Wechsler.