Torgerson recognized with honorary doctorate

Smoky Glass Torgerson ’69 has worn many hats in her lifetime: college professor, early childhood education supporter, community fundraiser and athletics champion. No matter which hat she wears, she’s always helping others.

“I knew that NMSU was where I was supposed to be,” says Torgerson. In spring 2022, NMSU chose to honor her long-standing devotion with an Honorary Doctor of Letters.

A native of Albuquerque, Torgerson grew up supporting the Aggies. Her family’s impact can be found throughout the NMSU campus. “Crimson is in our DNA,” she says. 

After a career teaching at the college level, Torgerson turned to philanthropy. She funded the Glass Family Library for Young Children in NMSU’s Myrna’s Children’s Village in 2007, and later created the Glass Family Endowed Scholarship in Education. In 2017, she and her husband, Alan Torgerson, made a generous gift to establish the Glass Family Research Institute for Early Childhood Studies.

Torgerson also endowed an athletic scholarship, and helped support the renovation of the women’s swimming and diving team facility, resulting in the Wanda Glass Family Swimming and Diving Locker Room. 

Torgerson became a member of the NMSU Board of Directors in 2007 and served until 2019, helping raise millions of dollars for future Aggies.