The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education formally approved Ramon S. Torrecilha, Ph.D., as Westfield State University’s 20th president last December, and his appointment was widely supported throughout the campus community.
“Dr. Torrecilha has a track record of success,” says Westfield State Board of Trustee member James Hagan ’84. “I am confident that he will work collaboratively with all stakeholders, most importantly students, to make Westfield State University the best university it can be.”
A life-long educator, Dr. Torrecilha’s breadth of administrative experience spans both public and private institutions serving varied student populations.
He served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University, Dominguez Hills, a highly diverse, metropolitan university, primarily serving the South Bay area of Los Angeles County and one of the 23 public campuses that comprise the California State University system.
Dr. Torrecilha also served as executive vice president and as acting president on two separate occasions at Mills College, an independent liberal arts college outside of San Francisco with a rich history as a leader in women’s education.
These experiences informed Dr. Torrecilha’s decision-making when seeking a presidential position. He says he was impressed with Westfield State’s history as the first co-educational college in America to offer an education without barrier to race, creed, or economic status.
“That’s very powerful, very moving,” Dr. Torrecilha says. “These values have spanned generations and continue to serve as a foundation for everything Westfield State is and does.”
In his first 100 days in office, Dr. Torrecilha’s plan was three-fold. First, “discover” the University by meeting with the campus community. Second, “define” vital areas of focus for the first year, and, finally, “deliver” and develop the team needed to transition seamlessly.
Determined to highlight alumni relations and fundraising efforts, Dr. Torrecilha says the key to creating a culture of giving is to ensure students look back on their time at Westfield State fondly.
“Student success and experiences are living testimonies of the effectiveness of the institution in promoting individual social mobility and the public good,” Torrecilha says. “If students have a good experience at the institution, they are more likely to respond to the call for support.”
