Vasti Torres

Vasti Torres is a professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the Indiana University School of Education. Previously she was a professor in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE) and Associate Faculty Member in Latino Studies at University of Michigan. She has been the Principal Investigator for several grants including a multi-year grant investigating the choice to stay in college for Latino students as well as a multi-year grant looking at the experiences of working college students. She has worked on several community college initiatives including Achieving the Dream and Rural Community College Initiative. Her professional service includes being Vice President for Division J: Postsecondary Education for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) from 2019 to 2021, in 2007 she became the first Latina president of a national student services association – ACPA, and in 2020 she began her term as the Editor of the Journal of College Student Development. Previously she has served as the Dean of the College of Education at the University of South Florida and Director of the Center for Postsecondary Research (CPR) in the School of Education at Indiana University.

Her awards include the Contribution to Knowledge Award from both ACPA and NASPA. She was also honored as a Diamond Honoree, Senior Scholar, Wise Woman, and the Latino Network John Hernandez Leadership Award by the American College Personnel Association. Other honors include the Professional Achievement Alumni Award from the University of Georgia, Program Associate for the National Center for Policy in Higher Education, Hispanic Scholarship Fund Alumni Hall of Fame in 2014, and in 2008 she received the Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award. In 2011-2012 she served as a Fulbright Specialist in South Africa. Dr. Torres is a graduate of Stetson University and holds a Ph.D. from The University of Georgia.