Background
Torgersen, Paul Ernest was born on October 13, 1931 in New York City. Son of Einar and Frances (Hansen) Torgersen.
academic administrator educator
Torgersen, Paul Ernest was born on October 13, 1931 in New York City. Son of Einar and Frances (Hansen) Torgersen.
Bachelor of Science, Lehigh University, 1953. Doctor of Engineering, Lehigh University, 1994. Master of Science, Ohio State University, 1956.
Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, 1959.
He obtained a Bachelor of Surgery degree in industrial engineering from Lehigh University in 1953. Torgersen came to Virginia Technical as a professor and the head of the Department of Industrial Engineering. In 1970, he was appointed dean of the College of Engineering, a post he held for over 20 years.
He led the College of Engineering to its place of national distinction – being ranked 17th in the nation among public and private institutions – and then served as president of the Corporate Research Center.
He was interim vice president for development and university relations. He was named president of Technical in late 1993 and served until January 2000.
He taught at least one three-hour course each semester for the past 43 years. Torgersen was a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the American Society of Engineering Education.
He served from 1979-1981 as chairman of the engineering Deans’ Council (the national organization of engineering deans).
Torgersen gave his final lecture on May 7, 2014 to his Theory of Organization class. He died on March 30, 2015.
Member Governor Mark Warner's Commission on Board of Visitor Appts., Richmond, Virginia, since 2002. So.State Energy Board, Richmond, 1986-1990. 1st lieutenant United States Air Force, 1953-1955.
Fellow American Society Engineering Education (Lamme medal 1994), Institute Industrial Engineering (Frank and Lillian Gibreth award 2001). Member National Academy Engineering (council since 1999).
Married Dorothea Hildegarde Zuschlag, September 11, 1954. Children: Karen Elizabeth, Janis Elaine, James Einar.