POTSDAM -- Christopher M. Torres, an assistant professor of exercise science at SUNY Potsdam, was recently selected as the New York director for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

He was also nominated to the NSCA National Diversity Committee.

The NSCA is a non-profit, educational organization “dedicated to strength and conditioning for improved physical performance,” according to a press release from the college.

"This is a distinguishing honor for Dr. Torres and will result in an active NSCA presence on our campus and unique experiences for our exercise science majors," said SUNY Potsdam's exercise science program Coordinator Tanya K. Hewitt.

Torres joined the exercise science program at SUNY Potsdam in the fall of 2016. He is an athlete and sports performance coach for United States Weightlifting. Additionally, he serves as a strength and conditioning coach for the NSCA.

Now as a director for NSCA, some of his main goals will be to increase the association's membership, promote their mission and increase public awareness about NSCA, the release said.

"He brings a passion and drive that will propel our exercise science program to become recognized and renown in the region and state," said Kathleen M. O'Rourke, chair of SUNY Potsdam's department of community health.

Torres brings an applied learning approach to SUNY Potsdam's exercise science program.

This semester he worked with colleagues and students to test out a new hydrostatic weighing machine in the Maxcy Hall pool, the release said.

The equipment, which measures body composition, is unique and not available anywhere else north of Syracuse, according to the college.

Torres and Hewitt plan to use the hydrostatic weighing apparatus in their upcoming exercise science classes.

Torres received his bachelor's degree from Portland State University as a McNair Scholar. He went on to receive his master of arts in education, with a specialization in exercise science and his doctor of philosophy in exercise and physical activity behavior from The Ohio State University.

He was also the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship recipient at The Ohio State University.