Torgersen, Paul E.

From Lehigh Engineering Heritage Initiative

**Paul E. Torgersen**
Paul Torgersen, alumnus
Birth:	October 13, 1931
Birthplace:	Staten Island, NY
Degree:	BS industrial engineering
Graduation:	1953
Notable Achievement:	14th President of Virginia Tech, member of the NAE

Paul E. Torgersen graduated from Lehigh in 1953 with a BS in industrial engineering. He attended Lehigh on a Tennis scholarship and was active in the engineering community. After studying at Lehigh Torgersen went on to earn his M.S. and Ph.D. from Ohio State University, where he later taught and was awarded the Benjamin G. Lamme Meritorious Achievement Medal in 1990. Torgersen first arrived at Virginia Tech in 1967 as the Industrial Systems Department head. By 1970 he was Dean of Engineering. In 1988, he served as Interim President for 8 months.

In 1990, Torgersen became president of Virginia Tech’s Corporate Research Center. He has served as chairman of the engineering Deans’ Council, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and has authored or co-authored five books - two translated into Japanese. In 1993, he began a seven year term as the fourteenth President of Virginia Tech. During his term as president, he continued to teach at least one class per semester. During his terms as dean and as president, 62,191 diplomas presented to Virginia Tech graduates were signed by Paul E. Torgersen.

Upon his leaving Virginia Tech in 1999 a building and a bridge were named after him, as well as the Class of 2006's traditional ring collection.

In 1986 he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and in 1997, Torgersen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Engineering from Lehigh University.