Dr. Anthony Torres, Professor in the Engineering Technology Department and Associate Director of the Materials Science Engineering and Commercialization (MSEC) doctoral program at Texas State University is an educator, researcher, and mentor. Currently he is teaching concrete materials courses focusing on all aspects of cement and concrete technology, including statics and engineering mechanics courses. He loves and is very passionate about his teaching and guarantees you’ll laugh in any of his courses. Dr. Torres considers himself a material scientist exploring a variety of materials. However, most of his career he has focused on cement and concrete technology. However, when the opportunities arise, he’ll do some interesting fiber optic research involving mid-IR lasers and zero-gravity, in collaboration with NASA/Space Force. When he does cement and concrete technology research he is trying to improve things; through better and easier testing standards, more sustainable concrete, more longer-lasting (i.e. durable) concrete, stronger and faster setting concrete, or strange concrete that doesn’t use any cement at all! In addition to his material science research he also is advancing and improving his classes, such that he’s investigating how to “teach actively"! He’s been funded and supported be a variety of local and national companies, the Texas DOT, the Minnesota DOT, NASA, the Space Force, and sometimes the University itself! He’s published over 50 combined peer-reviewed publications, conference proceedings, book chapters and has been awarded over $3 million dollars of funding. In 2022 he was honored with the best researcher award in the College of Science and Engineering at Texas State University and was the College’s nominee for overall best researcher at the university. In 2023 he was honored with the best teacher award in the College of Science and Engineering and was the College's nominee for overall best teaching at the university!