SACAD Board Members
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Dr. Michael L. Torrence, the 7th seated president at Motlow State Community College, leads the nation's 35th most successful institution which is also Tennessee's number one, top performing post-secondary institution. Dr. Torrence is a leader, life-long learner, innovator, collaborator, academician, and administrator. As Chief Executive Officer, his charge is to move Motlow State from good to great. In doing so, he invites all communities to ‘lean into the college' so that all can go and grow together. Purposefully and passionately, he models the strength, beauty, and value of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Torrence is successful in serving and transforming rural, urban, and suburban communities as he champions the community college and its mission. He has the ability to create the vision, communicate the vision, and carry the vision to fruition so that all stakeholders may benefit. Dr. Torrence is a connector who cultivates relationships above partnerships.
Dr. Torrence has committed his life to higher education leadership and scholarship. He is credited for introducing Virtual Reality, Artificial intelligence, and more progressive technology into the classroom in addition to OER and DEI in support of student success. He forges partnerships on every front and has taken Motlow State to an international platform as he serves on an international board as well as local, state, and regional boards and commissions, including Phi Theta Kappa Presidential Advisory Board, Western Governors University (WGU) Tennessee Advisory Board, Online Learning Consortium (OLC), Berkley College Online Advisory Board, Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and others. His exemplary leadership has garnered him recognition and awards to include Phi Theta Kappa Paragon Award for New Presidents, and GlobalMindEd Leader of the Year Award in 2-year and Post Graduate Higher Education. Dr. Torrence earned a Ph.D. in Exceptional Learning from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee; an M.A. and B. A. in English from South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. Certificates of graduation and completion include the American Association of Community Colleges Future Leaders Institute, League for Innovation in Community College Executive Leadership Institute, Complete Tennessee, and the Tennessee Board of Regents Maxine Smith Fellow Leadership Program, in addition to a technical certificate in accounting and finance/military pay from the USAF Technical Training School. Dr. Torrence continues to author scholarly publications and journals and is recognized as a premier national conference presenter and facilitator. Additionally, he has successfully written grants that have received funding in excess of $5 million. Dr. Torrence's higher education career spans more than 25 years and represents a demonstrated love of the teaching and learning community, working both as faculty and as an administrator across Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. He was a Research Fellow in Wroclaw, Poland; Assistant Professor of Education at Keystone College in Factoryville, Pennsylvania; Associate Academic Dean at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at Volunteer State Community College, in Gallatin, Tennessee, in addition to faculty member at Strayer University, East Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University, and others. As a servant leader, Dr. Torrence is actively involved in the community through Rotary International, IMPACT Leadership, National Association of Multicultural Education-Tennessee Chapter, Highlands Workforce Development and Education, many Chambers of Commerce, and youth recreational sports. |