Joseph M. Torsella (born October 8, 1963) is an American politician and former diplomat, who served as the Pennsylvania treasurer from 2017 to 2021. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Torsella was the U.S. representative to the United Nations for Management and Reform (with the rank of ambassador) from 2011 to 2014.United States Mission to the United Nations, ". He previously was president and CEO of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia from 1997 to 2003 and again from 2006 to 2008. He was the chairman of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education from 2008 through 2011. Torsella was elected as Pennsylvania Treasurer in 2016, losing re-election in 2020 to Republican Stacy Garrity.
Education After graduating from Wyoming Seminary, Torsella earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and history from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1986. As a Rhodes Scholar (1986–1990), he did graduate work in American history at New College, Oxford.
Early career Torsella served as Philadelphia's Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning for Mayor Ed Rendell (later Governor of Pennsylvania) from January 1992 to September 1993. He was not yet 30. Under Rendell, Torsella developed and implemented financial and labor reforms that led the city toward a fiscal rebound that the New York Times called "one of the most stunning turnarounds in recent urban history".Hinds, Michael deCourcy, "Philadelphia Climbs Out of Fiscal Depths and Builds by Sharing Sacrifices," New York Times, April 6, 1993, pg. A-19 The municipal renaissance was chronicled in journalist Buzz Bissinger's book A Prayer for the City,Bissinger, H.G., A Prayer for the City, Random House 1997 in which Torsella describes the Rendell administration's philosophy as "taking control of the government and restructuring it for effectiveness".Bissinger, 1997: 123
National Constitution Center (1997–2003) In 1988, the United States Congress passed and President Ronald Reagan signed the Constitution Heritage Act calling for the creation of a National Constitution Center to "disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a non-partisan basis in order to increase the awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people". The non-profit museum and education center was to be located in Philadelphia. But for almost a decade the project languished, financially troubled and inadequately focused.Van Allen, Peter, "Hospitality review preview: Under Pressure, Joseph M. Torsella," Philadelphia Business Journal, January 3, 2003, pg. 8
By 1997, the Constitution Center was still not built and already had an operating deficit of $200,000 (Philadelphia Business Journal, January 3, 2003). That year, Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell asked Torsella to become President and CEO. Torsella raised $185 million in private and public funds, formed a board of trustees led by Vanguard Group founder John C. Bogle and got the project back on track.Nussbaum, Debra, "A Renaissance Go-to guy," Philadelphia Inquirer, November 11, 2001, Sunday Magazine The National Constitution Center opened on July 4, 2003, in a modern glass-fronted structure (designed by Henry H. Cobb of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners) located on the north end of Independence Mall.Rybczynski, Witold, "More Perfect Union of Function and Form," New York Times, July 8, 2003
Olympic bid (2005) In 2005, Torsella co-chaired the city of Philadelphia's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games, along with David L. Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast Corp, and Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley. Chicago was ultimately selected as the U.S. Olympic bid city, but Torsella continued to serve as co-chairman of the Philadelphia Olympic and International Sports Project the successor organization to Philadelphia 2016 that attracted two Olympic team trial events, table tennis and gymnastics.
Return to the National Constitution Center (2006) Torsella returned as President and CEO of the National Constitution Center in 2006, after his successor, Richard Stengel, left to become managing editor of Time magazine. Under Torsella's leadership, the Center became the permanent home of the annual Liberty Medal ceremony. The medal was presented in 2006 to former Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton for their humanitarian work following Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Southeast Asia. In 2007, it went to Bono and DATA, the advocacy organization Bono co-founded for raising awareness about AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa. In 2008, the medal was presented to Mikhail GorbachevShister, Gail, "Gorbachev honored with Liberty Medal", Philadelphia Inquirer, September 19, 2008. to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall."Gorbachev to receive Liberty Medal for ending Cold War", Russia, September 5, 2008.
In 2007, Torsella personally persuaded former President George H. W. Bush to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees,Eichel, Larry, "Bush 41 Will Chair Constitution Center," Philadelphia Inquirer, January 12, 2007 pg. A-1 the only active board position President Bush then held.Eichel, Philadelphia Inquirer, 2007 In 2008, Torsella announced that former President Bill Clinton would replace Bush as chairman as of January 1, 2009."Bill Clinton named chairman of Constitution Center", USA Today, September 9, 2008.
The Constitution Center also hosted key events during the 2008 presidential race. On March 18, 2008, then-Senator Barack Obama delivered his much-heralded speech on race relations in America at the Constitution Center,Obama, Barack, "A More Perfect Union", National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA, March 18, 2008. one that historians Garry WillsWills, Garry, "Two Speeches on Race", The New York Review of Books. and Harold HolzerNational Constitution Center, A More Perfect Union: A Virtual Exhibit of Barack Obama's Race Speech at the Constitution Center on March 18, 2008, "Historian Harold Holzer compares Lincoln's Cooper Union Speech and Obama's Race Speech at the Constitution Center". have compared to Abraham Lincoln's famous Cooper Union address. On April 16, 2008, the National Constitution Center hosted a Democratic presidential primary debate between Senators Obama and Hillary Clinton, the last and highest rated debate of the primary season.Stelter, Brian, "Top Ratings for Pennsylvania Debate", New York Times: The Caucus Blog, April 17, 2008. That evening, Torsella's appearance on The Colbert Report aired on Comedy Central, in a segment awarded "Best TV Performance" in Philadelphia Magazine's 2008 Best of Philly issue.
In 2008, on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Constitution Center launched an International Engagement ProgramNational Constitution Center, "National Constitution Center Launches International Engagement Project: Focus on Supporting Democracy in Afghanistan" , December 10, 2008. to promote constitutional principles in emerging democracies by using the civic learning and educational initiatives it developed at the Constitution Center. The Program sought to bolster civil society in Afghanistan through partnerships with the Ministry of Education, the Marefet SchoolRubin, Trudy, "Worldview: Grassroots Afghan Education", Philadelphia Inquirer, March 14, 2010. and non-governmental organizations. The Constitution Center supported Nasim Fekrat, Afghanistan's leading blogger,Lowrey, Annie, "Meet Afghanistan's Biggest Blogger: How 26-year-old Nasim Fekrat Helped Create Afghanistan's Blogosphere Out of Thin Air", Foreign Policy, August 12, 2009. to strengthen citizen journalism in the country.Stern, Jeffrey, "Meet Afghanistan's Most Fearless Blogger", Slate, July 3, 2008. In addition, the Constitution Center provided Afghan students with digital cameras and camcorders to capture the sights and sounds of freedom, religious expression and other civic themes as part of its Being "We the People" exhibit project, which opened at the Constitution Center on August 24, 2009.
On December 11, 2008, Torsella announced that he would be stepping down as President and CEO of the Constitution Center at the end of January 2009.http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2008/12/08/daily34.html?q=torsella%20resigns%20national%20constitution "Torsella to step down as Constitution Center chief" The Philadelphia Inquirer described his tenure as a "resounding success" and called him a "modern-day founding father"."A Modern Day Founding Father," Philadelphia Inquirer, December 15, 2008.
Other political runs In 2004, Torsella ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district. Torsella received endorsements from the region's major newspapers, including the Philadelphia Inquirer,"Pa. Primary Elections A Summary of Endorsements," Philadelphia Inquirer, April 25, 2004 but was outspent by close to $1 million, and lost in a close Democratic Party primary to Allyson Schwartz.Prichard, Oliver, "Schwartz, Brown will vie for Hoeffel seat; Schwartz's Democratic win was narrow. Melissa Brown coasted in GOP," Philadelphia Inquirer, April 28, 2004
In 2009, Torsella announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2010 U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania.Associated Press, "Joe Torsella to Seek Democratic Nod for Senate", February 9, 2009. Torsella withdrew from the race after incumbent Senator Arlen Specter switched party affiliations from Republican to Democrat, citing a desire to avoid a potentially negative primary fight that would weaken Democratic chances in the November 2010 general election.Fitzgerald, Thomas, "Torsella Drops Out of U.S. Senate Race", Philadelphia Inquirer, May 14, 2009.Hefling, Kimberly, "Joe Torsella, Specter's Democratic Opponent, Drops Out of Race", Huffington Post, May 14, 2009.
In 2016, Torsella was elected as Pennsylvania State Treasurer, beating Republican Otto Voit of Berks County. As Treasurer, Torsella is responsible for overseeing more than $100 billion in public assets, but his bigger challenge comes with changing the public perception. The position of treasurer was previously held by Timothy A. Reese, who was nominated and confirmed in June 2015 following the resignation of Rob McCord.
Chairman of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education On August 13, 2008, Governor Edward G. Rendell named Torsella the Chairman of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education."Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Names Joseph Torsella State Board of Education Chairman", redOrbit.com, August 13, 2008.