Prairie View A&M University’s proud legacy of producing leaders is a beacon. It drew Torina Lewis, PhD, from Rhode Island to Texas in January 2024 to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through community engagement and multidisciplinary innovation.
Now, she is the director of the Science Innovation Demonstration Laboratory and an endowed professor at the University.
“I was drawn to PVAMU’s legacy of producing leaders and its commitment to educational equity,” Dr. Lewis said. “The opportunity to lead the Science Innovation Demonstration Laboratory aligned perfectly with my passion for the integration of innovation, multidisciplinary education and research, and community engagement.”
She began teaching in 2006 as a sixth-grade mathematics teacher, before transitioning into higher education in 2010. Dr. Lewis holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics from the University of Mississippi, a Master of Science in Mathematics from Southern University and A&M College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics Education from Southern University at New Orleans.
Her career has included serving as associate executive director for meetings and professional services at the American Mathematical Society, the largest mathematics society in the world. In this national leadership role, she drove multi-sector initiatives, shaped policy, and expanded the Society’s impact on research and education. A hallmark of her leadership was advancing access and professional opportunities for historically excluded populations in mathematics.
At PVAMU, Dr. Lewis has served as a faculty member, mentor, and center director. Her leadership has consistently created space for mathematicians who have been historically excluded while advancing a joint pursuit of equity and excellence.
She has been widely recognized for her contributions: featured in the Meet a Mathematician interview series (2023), recipient of the National Association of Mathematicians Clarence F. Stephens/Abdulalim A. Shabazz Teaching Award (2021–2022), named one of Cell Mentor’s “1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America” (2020), and honored by Mathematically Gifted and Black (2020). Earlier honors include the Vulcan Teaching Excellence Award (2017–2018) and the Delores Aldridge-McMillan Award for Excellence in Teaching (2016–2017).
Dr. Lewis’s accomplishments reflect her commitment to academic excellence, transformative teaching, and community empowerment. She has published and presented research in mathematics, data science, and curriculum reform in STEM equity; led initiatives to create data science pathways at Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and secured funding for faculty and student development. Her mentorship has guided numerous students whose research presentations earned national recognition, underscoring her lasting impact in STEM education.
“I was drawn to PVAMU’s legacy of producing leaders and its commitment to educational equity.”
“I was drawn to PVAMU’s legacy of producing leaders and its commitment to educational equity.”
A FOUNDATION FOR LEADERSHIP
While she discovered her passion for numbers in tenth grade, it was the U.S. Army that taught her real-life values like discipline, purpose, and leadership.
Dr. Lewis was commissioned as an Army officer at 23 years old, which she says “cemented” her identity as a leader.
“The Army instilled in me discipline, purpose, and the ability to guide others through challenge and change,” she said. “Those lessons continue to shape how I lead within academic spaces.”
She also credits her parents – the late Carolyn and Melvin Lewis – with modeling integrity and moral courage.
“My parents modeled ethical behavior in every aspect of their lives,” Dr. Lewis said. “From them, I learned that leadership is not only about decision-making and direction, but also about compassion, fairness, and doing what is right, even when it is difficult.”
These formative experiences inspired her to think broadly about educational impact, envisioning programs that foster innovation on a larger scale, such as the Science Innovation Demonstration Laboratory.
“From my parents, I learned that leadership is not only about decision-making and direction, but also about compassion, fairness, and doing what is right, even when it is difficult.”
“From my parents, I learned that leadership is not only about decision-making and direction, but also about compassion, fairness, and doing what is right, even when it is difficult.”
A FOUNDATION FOR IMPACT
Developed through the joint efforts of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, and the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education, the lab is designed as a hub for academic excellence, research advancement, and workforce readiness.
“The lab brings together students, educators, industry leaders, and community partners to engage in cross-sector collaboration and develop creative, data-informed solutions to complex societal challenges,” she said. “By removing traditional disciplinary boundaries, the lab fosters creativity, integrates artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, and encourages the exchange of ideas across fields.”
The lab is more than a research space—it is, Dr. Lewis says, a promise of potential.
“It is a platform for transformation where students, faculty, and partners come together to address pressing societal issues through multidisciplinary collaboration,” she said. “The lab’s focus on innovation, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, and community engagement makes it a model for advancing collaborative research and preparing the next generation of STEM leaders.”
Her vision is for PVAMU’s Science Innovation Demonstration Laboratory to have a national impact, leaving a legacy of its own.
“Whether I am mentoring one student or leading an initiative that impacts a community, I strive to make a difference that is both personal and transformative.”
“Whether I am mentoring one student or leading an initiative that impacts a community, I strive to make a difference that is both personal and transformative.”
“What inspires me most about this work is its emphasis on innovation and community engagement,” Dr. Lewis said. “The lab deepens connections between the University and the broader community through strategic partnerships and intentional collaboration. This approach expands opportunities for scholars and educators, prepares students for careers in technology-driven industries, and positions PVAMU as a leader in addressing critical societal needs.”
Beyond the University, she founded Dominating Dimensions, a company dedicated to community empowerment. While its work spans multiple areas, its newest stream focuses on financial literacy through education that helps community members understand and actively participate in financial markets. By demystifying investing and introducing practical trading concepts, Dr. Lewis equips individuals with tools to build generational wealth and achieve economic independence.
“If I can help just one, then my living will not be in vain,” Dr. Lewis said. “Whether I am mentoring one student or leading an initiative that impacts a community, I strive to make a difference that is both personal and transformative.”