Torie has guided some of the nation’s most effective non-profit organizations as they tackled tremendous challenges, including the AIDS crisis, LGBT rights, and economic justice. She has worked on governance and fiscal reform, increasing voter participation by young people, people of color and immigrants. Torie is known nationally for her community-organizing approach to solving problems and for being at the leading edge of major fights for social justice for over five decades. She is also a published author and columnist.

In recognition of her efforts dedicated to social justice and to strengthening community, the Alumni Council has awarded Torie the Margaret Bailey Speer Award.