A native of Ohio, Dr. Torrance earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his Ph.D. from the University of Idaho under Hirotachi Abo. He previously held faculty positions at primarily undergraduate institutions, including Monmouth College and Piedmont University, and is deeply committed to undergraduate education.

A recipient of the Simons Foundation’s Scientific Software Research Faculty Award, he continues the development of Macaulay2, a widely used software system for research in algebraic geometry and commutative algebra. His work focuses on improving performance and interoperability with other mathematical software, expanding functionality, and making the system more accessible to new users. These efforts aim to strengthen Macaulay2 as a central tool for researchers while fostering a broader and more inclusive community of contributors.