Torrey Tracy's Non-Traditional Introduction to Design Motivates His Hope for Students

Tara Ferkel

Torrey Tracy is assistant professor of interior architecture and design in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. He taught for two years in the school as a visiting professor before becoming a tenure-track professor in 2019.

Editor's Note: As the U of A strives to become an employer of choice, the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design is highlighting the faculty and staff who help the school excel.

Torrey Tracy, assistant professor of interior architecture and design, came to the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design in 2017 as a visiting professor. In 2019, he became a tenure-track professor. He primarily teaches first-year studio and the building systems course. Tracy is a licensed architect in Arkansas and Nevada.

With a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Tracy planned to study forensic pathology and work as a medical examiner. However, while applying to medical schools, he took various classes at UNLV to stay academically engaged. After taking an introduction to architecture course, Tracy was enthusiastic about taking the next class in the program. It didn't take long for him to admit he should pursue a career in design.

At 29, he started UNLV's bridge program for a Master of Architecture degree.

While interior design seems like a dramatic shift from his past in criminology, Tracy has found an intersection by examining what should be done with what he calls "sites of sensitivity."

"Those are sites or structures that have a connection to less-than-positive elements of history," Tracy said. "These sites of sensitivity are sites that have trauma, spaces of psychological power or influence. Specifically, it's about how we address these sites in the form of memorials or establishing memory."

Although he managed to find an intersection for his interests, Tracy said shifting careers was a struggle.

While technically a non-traditional student, it wasn't the typical battle of competing with traditional students that was difficult for him.

"It was us against our lives that we had to put on hold to become architects or designers," Tracy said. "Many of us had families and mortgages. We had to work to navigate through that."

But getting his degree was just one step in the process. Tracy said passing his architecture license exams was a hard fight for him.

"It was six exams in total, and I failed them multiple times. I got kind of good at failing them, especially the ones that dealt with structures and involved calculations," Tracy said. "I almost gave up many times."

He didn't quit because he believed that there are two types of smart people: those who succeed on their first attempt and those who keep trying.

"I wanted to be a smart person. I'm not the first kind of smart, but maybe I'm the second," Tracy said. "I studied; I kept fighting at it. It cost me a lot more than it would if I passed my first time, but I did it. Now I get to enjoy the same rewards as the first kind of smart person."

While perhaps daunting to some, Tracy said starting a new career at 34 was an opportunity to live a new life, something he encourages other non-traditional students to do as well.

"Nontraditional students need to embrace it; they need to accept that they will be leaders, even if they do not know much about the new profession at the onset," Tracy said. "There is another level of your understanding that will be vastly different than your younger cohort members in that you have more responsibility to provide mentorship and guidance."

While he said he still has some professional insecurity about starting late, teaching has helped him overcome the hurdles.

It also serves as a reminder of the wonderful professional lives he wants for his students.

"I want them to live a life free of insecurity and lack of confidence," Tracy said. "I hope if they knew the insecurities I had, that would give them strength."

Read the full Q&A with Torrey Tracy.