August 8, 2019

Dr. Toni M. Torres-McGehee to receive SEC ALDP Alumni Fellowship

Dr. Torres-McGehee is Associate Dean of the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina.

By: SEC Staff
SECU (Twitter: @TheSECU)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Dr. Toni M. Torres-McGehee, Associate Dean of the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, will receive an SEC Academic Leadership Development Program (SEC ALDP) Alumni Fellowship, the Conference staff announced Thursday. The fellowship is an opportunity for SEC ALDP alumni to visit other SEC universities to strengthen their administrative leadership skills while addressing an area of growth for their home institutions.

A member of the 2015-2016 SEC ALDP cohort, Dr. Torres-McGehee assists faculty, staff and leadership in developing and implementing a shared vision to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition to her responsibilities as Associate Dean, she also represents the Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training as an Associate Professor and Graduate Athletic Training Program Director. A thought-leader in exercise science and athletic training, Dr. Torres-McGehee has published in the Journal of Athletic Training, Military Medicine, Journal of Sport & Health Sciences and Research Quarterly, among others.

“Research is an essential part of every Southeastern Conference university,” said Dr. Torie Johnson, SEC Associate Commissioner. “Dr. Torres-McGehee has spent many years exploring ways to enhance the experiences of students and faculty at the University of South Carolina, and being able to support her efforts in this area is extremely important to the SEC.”

As an SEC ALDP alumni fellow, Dr. Torres-McGehee has been invited to spend time with administrators at the University of Florida, the University of Georgia and Texas A&M University during the upcoming academic year. On those campuses she plans to appraise how each institution is working to foster a culture that minimizes bias and recognizes systemic inequities.

“I strive to bring back ideas on how to best integrate new voices and expertise to help advance the common good,” said Dr. Torres-McGehee. “I expect to uncover best practices for our institution to recruit diverse leaders, faculty, staff and students; identify the best action we can take to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and classroom environments; and improve data collection and transparency so we can measure progress.”

The SEC ALDP Alumni Fellowship is in its third year and two former participants may receive the award annually. In addition to Dr. Torres-McGehee, Dr. Elena Castro from the Louisiana State University will also receive a fellowship for 2019-2020. The overarching SEC ALDP seeks to identify, prepare and advance academic leaders for roles within SEC institutions and beyond.