Dear Faculty and Staff:
I am heartbroken to share the news that Michael Torres, Executive Director of Institutional Research at TC, passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Michael is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and his daughter, Ann.
Michael was a generous colleague and an insightful Director of Institutional Research who loved his work and being part of the TC community. He was truly one of the most positive, forward-thinking and kind colleagues I have ever met. I know many of you across the College were fortunate to work with him over the past 18 months. From analyzing complex data to demonstrate TC’s impact to implementing systems to make our funded research processes more effective and efficient, Michael approached his work with precision, enthusiasm and warmth — as well as an eagerness to support his colleagues in realizing their goals and making TC a more informed and stronger institution.
Michael worked in the field of institutional research for nearly 20 years. Prior to joining TC, he served as Vice President for Technology and Institutional Effectiveness at Molloy University in Rockville Centre, New York. He began his tenure at Molloy as the Director of Institutional Research and soon after took on additional leadership roles related to strategic planning, accreditation and information technology. Michael also worked at Hofstra University, and before his career in higher education, he worked at Mutual of America in New York City, holding key positions in the company's Marketing, Corporate Training and Employee Benefits areas. Michael earned his M.A. in Foundations of Education from Hofstra University and a B.A. in Political Science from SUNY Geneseo.
On behalf of the leadership team and all of us at Teachers College, I extend our deepest condolences to Michael’s family, friends and colleagues on this terrible loss.
We understand how upsetting this news is, especially for those of you who knew and worked with Michael. As a reminder, Teachers College employees have access to mental health resources for emotional support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
For more information about how to honor Michael’s life, please find the link to his obituary here.
Sincerely, 
KerryAnn O’Meara
Provost and Dean of the College
Professor of Higher Education
Teachers College, Columbia University
she/her/hers