Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 2, 1993 TAG: 9310020275
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Torgerson, who had been serving as interim dean of the College of Engineering, will lead the university until a replacement can be found for James McComas, who stepped down due to cancer.
The board also formed a 12-person presidential search committee headed by Vice Rector Henry Dekker. The committee's recommendations are expected in April.
Cliff Garvin, rector of Tech's board, said the board considered several candidates for acting president, but settled on Torgerson because he's shown he can do the job.
"He did it once before and he did it well," Garvin said. "He's eminently qualified."
Torgerson, 62, was named Tech's acting president after William Lavery resigned in 1987. He was a finalist to permanently replace Lavery, but the Board of Visitors decided to go outside the university and hire McComas from the University of Toledo.
Torgerson said he probably will not apply to permanently replace McComas.
"I don't believe so," he said. "I'm reluctant to say categorically no."
The 27-year Tech veteran said he doesn't expect any major changes at the school and will mainly try to continue projects McComas started - especially continuing to develop closer ties to the Roanoke Valley.
"This is a great place and I look forward to serving it," he said. "I don't have any specific agendas I'd like to achieve."
David DeWolf, president of Tech's faculty senate, said he had no doubt Torgerson will do an excellent job. "He's a good leader and he knows the ropes, so to speak," he said.
Torgerson was dean of Tech's College of Engineering from 1970 to 1990, but stepped down to devote more time to students. He was named interim dean for engineering in July after Wayne Clough went to the University of Washington.
He is also president of Virginia Tech's Corporate Research Center and the author of five books.
Before coming to Tech in 1967 as head of the department of industrial engineering, Torgerson taught at Oklahoma State University and Ohio State University. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
by CNB