RUTHERFORD, NJ—Felician University student athletes are a motivated bunch, inspired to compete on the field, in the classroom, and in off-campus pursuits. Senior softball star Kimberly Torres is a Felician sports legend in the making. Last season, the catcher and infielder put together one of the best seasons in Felician softball history, leading the CACC in hits, doubles, home runs, and RBIs en route to earning First Team All CACC honors, as well as D2CCA Second Team All-American honors. She shares with us how her determination on the field spills into other aspects of her life and fuels her efforts as a communications student. Kimberly also touches on the importance of her family and cultural roots and what it means to attend a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

What brought you to Felician University?

Transferring to Felician was really about family and full-circle moments for me. Playing back home in Puerto Rico was an unbelievable experience; I loved every second of it. It opened so many incredible doors, like getting selected to play in the Latino Americano Big League and even being drafted into the Superior League, which is the professional league in Puerto Rico. As great as playing in Puerto Rico was, I was far away from my biggest support system. During breaks between games, I didn’t have my family around the way I did growing up, back in high school or when I was playing travel ball. My parents invested so much time, money, and energy into my athletic career over the years, and I wanted to give something back to them.

Coming to Felician gave me the chance to do that. It meant my parents could travel to see me play at the next level, sit in the stands, and cheer me on in person. Having your family there in the crowd completely changes the game; that kind of support means everything to an athlete, and sharing this level of my career with them made the decision an easy one.

Tell us about what you’re studying and your post-college ambitions?

I’m a Communications major with a concentration in Journalism, and during my junior year, I decided to pick up a minor in Marketing.

On the field, my ultimate post-college goal is to keep playing the sport I love for as long as possible. Softball is a huge passion of mine, and I want to push my athletic career as far as it can go, whether that means playing overseas or earning an opportunity to get drafted into the Athletes Unlimited Softball (AUSL) League. Professionally, my experiences off the field have really helped shape my path. I’ve had the opportunity to intern with our Athletics Communications department, and that experience opened my eyes; it showed me that this is exactly where my interests lie. Working in sports media and athletics communications connects with me on a personal level because, as an athlete, I understand both sides of the story. I know the work, the sacrifices, and the emotions that happen behind-the-scenes, not just on the field. Being able to combine my journalism and marketing background to tell those stories, elevate student-athletes, and represent the intensity and passion of sports feels like a natural extension of who I am. Whether I’m playing the game or covering it, sports will always be at the center of what I do.

Congratulations on being named an All-American softball player. What was that moment like for you and how does that motivate you to strive further in your athletic career?

Being named an All-American is such an honor because it really proves that all the extra hours and hard work when nobody was watching truly pay off. At the same time, this achievement isn’t just about me. It motivates me to strive even further, but mostly for the young girls coming up after me—especially back home playing in Newark, New Jersey, and specifically for the Newark Lady Pirates, which is where I grew up playing before making the transition to travel ball.

Knowing that little girls from my hometown are watching motivates me to work even harder every single day. I want to show them that it doesn’t matter where you start; it’s completely possible to make it to this level if you just keep your head down, put in the work, and believe in yourself. Seeing what’s possible can change everything for a young athlete, and I want to be that proof for them.

What is your uniform number and is there any significance to it?

My uniform number is 13, and I’ve worn it for pretty much every team I’ve ever played for. I picked it because that was my older brother’s number. He’s one of the main people I have to thank for my success in softball. Whenever I’m overthinking or overcomplicating things, he’s the one person who can break the game down, simplify everything, and make it make sense again. I’ve always looked up to him both on and off the field. He doesn’t play anymore, but wearing 13 is my way of carrying him with me—as long as I’m out on the field, he is too. Wearing his number is just a constant reminder of everything he’s taught me and the impact he’s had on my journey.

How long have you been playing? Are you planning to continue to stay connected to softball in anyway after graduation?

I’ve been playing since I was five years old, I actually started out in baseball and made the transition over to softball around age nine or ten. I’ll 100% stay connected to the sport after graduation. My main goal is to keep playing, whether that’s getting drafted here in the States or taking my career overseas. Outside of playing, I’m already coaching in a few ways. I do personal training with younger players, and whenever I have time in my schedule, I go back as an assistant coach for the team I grew up with. As for coaching at the college level down the road, I’m honestly not 100% sure. I haven’t given it too much thought yet since my main focus right now is playing, but softball will definitely always be a huge part of my life.

What can you say about your experience as a Felician student?

For me, it comes down to the standard of support. Coach Phil [Delgado] and Coach Jorge [Solodkin] fight for their players in ways most coaching staffs just don’t bother to do, and that sets a completely different standard for our team. On the academic side, the professors respect what it takes to compete at a high level and work with you so you can handle business on both ends. That combination is rare, and it’s what made being a student-athlete here worth it.

What makes Hispanic Heritage Month important to you?

To me, Hispanic Heritage Month is about pride, representation, and honoring my roots. My culture is everything to me, my mom was born and raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico, and my dad is from Yauco, so playing in Puerto Rico and competing here in the States has always been rooted in where I come from. It’s a chance to celebrate the sacrifices my family made for me to be here, while hopefully showing the next generation of Hispanic student-athletes that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to.

What does it mean for you to attend a university that is a leading Hispanic Serving Institution?

Attending a leading HSI means being in a place where you don’t have to leave your identity at the door, where you’re not just checking a box, but actually stepping into an environment that reflects who you are. Coming from a strong Puerto Rican household, culture is my foundation, so being at a university that actively embraces that creates a real sense of community. As a Latina athlete, it gives me a platform where my background is celebrated as a strength, allowing me to be supported as a whole person while setting an example and paving the way for other Hispanic student-athletes trying to reach this stage.

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About Felician University 

Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,800 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Felician University was recognized in Newsweek’s America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026, earning distinction as the No. 1 college for women in New Jersey. Additionally, Felician has been named a best value school by payscale.com and Money magazine, and as one of the best college locations in NJ (#4) by niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and the Princeton Review. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the fifteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supportive environment and earned us a spot on Washington Monthly’s Top 100 HSI list (#30). With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, transformation, solidarity with people in need, justice and peace are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is sponsored by Felician Sisters International. For more information, please visit https://felician.edu/