Although Dr. Mauricio Torres has only been with Indiana Tech for a little over a year, he has made a huge impact in the College of Engineering.
The associate professor adapted immediately to the university and prepared the ABET Self Study for the mechanical engineering program—a program for which he is the faculty lead. His experience and input helped university leaders craft their vision for the current Zollner Engineering Center renovation and expansion project. He was able to secure Lilly Grant money to purchase new equipment for the mechanical engineering technology and mechanical engineering programs. And he is already establishing solid connections with local/regional industry partners.
Moving forward, Dr. Torres’ experience with building new programs will become a great asset for Indiana Tech as we develop a Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering Technology Program.
So, without further delay, here are A Few Words with Dr. Mauricio Torres.
Where did your interest in engineering develop?
I guess I have been an engineering buff since a very young age. Since forever, I have been interested in mechanisms and curious about how things function. My favorite toys always were the ones that help to construct things, such as Lego, Meccano, Erector, etc. It was always very clear to me what kind of job I would like to do when grown up.
You were in industry for quite some time. How and why did the transition to teaching happen?
In the year of 2004, I decided to pursue my master’s degree for professional development. At that time, I wanted to be updated in computational methods and tools, as I received my two bachelor’s degrees in the ‘80s and earlier ‘90s, and missed formal training in most of those developments. The subsequent doctoral degree was a natural development in that process, and by graduation time (in 2011) I was offered a position of adjunct faculty at Florida International University, which I embraced enthusiastically.
Business strategy changes imposed on my last employer (in industry) by budget requirements have convinced me that times were mature enough for a career shift toward academia. In 2013 I was hired as a full-time faculty member at Northern Kentucky University, where later I became engineering technology program director, with tenure.
What do you like most about teaching?
The most rewarding aspect of teaching is when you know that your previous students are engaged in successful careers in their field of study. Many of my students are now progressing in industry as engineers or managers; others were accepted in highly regarded graduate programs in pursuit of academic careers. For an educator, that is what really pays off.
What have been some of your biggest triumphs as an educator?
In academia, I was able to develop research in engineering education, focusing on the inherent challenges related to international, non-traditional and underrepresented minority students. I was also involved in curriculum development and other initiatives, focusing on students’ success. Under my leadership at NKU, a new program, a B.S. in mechatronics engineering technology, has been implemented based on the needs of local employers, in collaboration with a regional technical and community college. Other initiatives aiming toward curriculum improvement were also implemented. Since I started as faculty, our programs have been reviewed successfully in two ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) re-accreditation cycles. Currently I am going through the third one, here at Indiana Tech. Last spring, I became a program evaluator with ABET.
What do you feel about the future of engineering at Indiana Tech?
The push toward STEM education from all levels of government and the industry shift toward advanced technologies is widely known, and it is well documented in academia. For this reason, employers are looking for engineering graduates very aggressively and schools just cannot cope with the demand. I believe this is the trend for the foreseeable future, and our university’s decision to invest in the Zollner Engineering Center expansion was made in perfect timing. This project will increase our physical capacity and the alignment of our labs and teaching resources with state-of-the-art technologies will be of essence to attract new students. I am sure the future of the engineering program is bright here at Indiana Tech.
What does Dr. Torres do away from the university?
I have been married for 34 years, with two adult sons. I enjoy modeling, particularly model trains, of which I have a large collection; I like to fly—I am a licensed private pilot, but I have been grounded for a few years. I am also an avid reader of modern history in general and military history in particular.
