Paul Torgersen
14th President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Term	1993 – 2000
Predecessor	James Douglas McComas
Born	October 13, 1931 Staten Island, New York
Alma mater	Lehigh University

Paul Ernest Torgersen, Ph.D (born October 13, 1931 in Staten Island, New York) was the 14th President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The academic building Torgersen Hall and Torgersen Bridge at Virginia Tech were named in his honor.

[edit] Background

Torgersen earned his B.S. in industrial engineering from Lehigh University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Ohio State University. Prior to working at Virginia Tech, Torgersen taught at Ohio State and Oklahoma State University. He started his tenure as professor and department head in Virginia Tech’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research in January 1967, eventually becoming dean of the College of Engineering in 1970. Before being named acting university president in October 1993, Torgersen served at various times as John Grado Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, appointee to the Governor of Virginia’s Task Force on Science and Technology, president of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, interim vice president for Development and University Relations, interim university president, and John W. Hancock Jr. Chair of Engineering.

Although Torgersen has successfully acted in various administrative roles for Virginia Tech, he consistently demonstrated his passion for teaching by instructing at minimal one class every semester, even while acting as President of Virginia Tech. This class, named Theory of Organization, permitted Torgersen to maintain an active relationship with the student body outside of his administrative role, and as Dr. Torgersen jokingly admitted, the class permitted him to avoid extended meetings because he always could claim “I’m sorry, but I have to go to class.”

Preceded by James Douglas McComas 1987 – 1993

Virginia Tech president 1993 – 2000

Succeeded by Charles W. Steger 2000 – present

[edit] External links

• Past Presidents and Bios
• National Academy of Engineering member directories
• Torgersen among governor's appointments to Commission on Higher Education