Meet Professor Lisa Torrey
Meet Your Computer Science Mentor
Associate Professor of Computer Science Lisa Torrey combines her love of problem-solving and creativity to make computer science accessible, engaging, and exciting for all students. Her courses inspire intellectual curiosity and civic responsibility in order to equip students with the skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.
What’s your favorite class to teach, and why?
I love teaching Introduction to Computer Programming. For many students, it’s their first encounter with coding, and it feels like learning magic. They discover how to make a computer follow their commands, but only if they express those commands correctly. Watching them realize the power of programming is incredibly rewarding.
How do you make your classes engaging?
I believe in active, hands-on learning. In every class, students work on the lab computers alongside me, trying out examples and solving their own exercises. This approach helps them develop programming skills through practice, collaboration, and immediate feedback.
What surprises students most about you?
Probably that I’m not just a computer scientist— I am deeply engaged in work on campus to promote student voting in national elections. As part of the Vote Everywhere team, I help students navigate the processes of registering to vote and casting a ballot. I see becoming a voter as a crucial aspect of becoming an adult in this country.
What do you value most about the students you teach?
Intellectual curiosity is a wonderful thing to see in students. It drives you to pursue understanding, not just because you might be tested, but because you want to understand. I love having students who engage fully, ask questions, and enjoy challenges.
What’s a favorite alumni success story?
I’m inspired by the team of no less than eight St. Lawrence graduates working at the software company Veoci based in New Haven, Conn. The company has been so impressed with our graduates that they’ve been recruiting our students for the past seven years!
