Kara Thornton-Kurth Inspires Graduate Students with Compassionate Mentorship

Associate Professor Kara Thornton-Kurth has played a pivotal role in graduate student success during her nearly 10 years at USU. The outstanding animal scientist was recently named the 2025 CAAS Graduate Research Mentor of the Year.

Thornton-Kurth guides her graduate students toward remarkable academic achievements, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at national conferences. She ensures that students are producing high-quality research while also developing the skills and confidence to share their work with the broader scientific community. Under her mentorship, students have co-authored 36 peer-reviewed articles and presented their research at national conferences 64 times.

Thornton-Kurth believes in a deeply personal approach to mentorship and invests time in understanding each of her graduate students' unique strengths, weaknesses, and personality types. She goes out of her way to show students that she cares about their personal lives just as much as their professional careers. She creates a supportive environment by hosting holiday gatherings and offering a listening ear during difficult times.

Former students continue to seek guidance from Thornton-Kurth as they transition into their own academic and industry careers. She has helped new professors establish research labs, navigate faculty roles, and find their footing in the scientific community. Thornton-Kurth’s passion for animal science is contagious, and she instills this enthusiasm and sense of purpose in her students. Her dedication to mentorship leaves a lasting impact, shaping the next generation of animal scientists and educators.