LLCC 2016 Honored Alumnus

Dr. Andrew Thoron earned his Associate in Science from Lincoln Land Community College in 2000, then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University. Additionally, earned his Master of Science and his Ph.D. from the University of Florida, where he is now an assistant professor in the Agricultural Education and Communication Department.

Andrew’s love for agriculture developed on his grandparent’s farm in central Illinois. His desire to learn turned into a fire to teach. Dr. Thoron’s teaching career began at Mt. Pulaski High School where he taught agriscience. He then took on a state leadership role where his primarily responsibility was to aid agriscience teachers, administrators, and community members in developing and maintaining agricultural education programs. Currently, Dr. Thoron serves agriscience teachers with their professional development needs and he also coordinates the teaching certification for the department. His research expertise is in the area of teaching and learning that focus on argumentation skill development. Additional areas of research interest are central to effective teaching, student achievement, and scientific reasoning.

Dr. Thoron is a four-time winner of author of the year for the Journal of Agricultural Education, the first in his profession to receive this honor. He was most recently has been awarded the Southern Region Outstanding Young Member for the American Association of Agricultural Education and the Outstanding Faculty Advisor/Mentor Award for the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences at the University of Florida.

Andrew’s inspiration in life follows the individuals that first believe in him and he works to cultivate such relationships with individuals like himself. He develops students to dream it, believe it, and achieve it!