De la Torre, a professor, director of the Center for Transnational Health and former chair of the Department of Chicana/o Studies, has both a personal and professional commitment to pursuing additional fund sources to support students and alleviate their debt. She has a long history of positive working relationships between faculty and Student Affairs staff, working closely with student activists during campus protests. She has earned a reputation for being effective at listening, balancing perspectives and helping to minimize tensions on campus.