Purposeful Science

A Triple Dawg, Toran works to promote cultural competence and community development through agricultural engagement

BSA — Agriculture, '20
MAEE — Agricultural and Environmental Education, '21
PhD — Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, '25

Joshua Toran wears a tan jumpsuit and his graduation cap and stole around his neck. He's leaning against a black iron pillar that's part of the iconic UGA arch. He holds two degree tubes in his hands.

Growing up in downtown Augusta, Georgia, roughly a mile from the Savannah River, Joshua Toran III didn’t have a farm in his backyard. It was his curiosity, a knack for science and math, and a series of school and summer camp experiences that turned his attention toward the natural world.

When it came time to choose a college, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences felt like a natural fit — a place where his instincts about science could deepen into something purposeful.

“I chose CAES because I felt like the learning I would engage in connected me to where I grew up while also opening doors to spaces I hadn’t been exposed to in my upbringing,” Toran said.

He has spent nearly a decade making good on that promise. Toran earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural and applied economics in 2020, his master’s in agricultural and environmental education in 2021 and, most recently, his doctorate in agricultural leadership, education and communication in 2025, earning him the distinction of Triple Ag Dawg.

Toran stands in a dessert with a tan jacket and blue shirt underneath with a white scarf and his arms spread out wide.

The throughline across all three degrees is a simple but ambitious philosophy: Do the most good for the most people. For Toran, that means working at the intersection of agriculture, education and human connection, helping people engage with the complex food and environmental challenges facing the world.

“I believe that the complex environmental and food system problems we face around the world can be solved when people come together,” he said. “Growing as a professional within the social dimensions of agriculture has afforded me the experiences and skills I need.”

One course early in his undergraduate career crystallized that sense of purpose. Taught by Associate Professor Brian Kiepper in the Department of Poultry Science, “Effects of Global Agriculture on World Culture” wove together topics Toran already cared about and revealed how deeply agriculture runs through human civilization — shaping societies, economies, politics and the environment.

“The course deepened my sense of belonging in CAES and the agriculture industry,” he said.

A black and white image of Toran kneeling on a wooden bridge looking down at a flowing stream in the mountains., image

A slightly more colorful image of Toran kneeling on a wooden bridge looking down at a flowing stream in the mountains., image

A fully colorful image of Toran kneeling on a wooden bridge looking down at a flowing stream in the mountains., image

Toran stands on the far right with his team during the 37th MANRRS conference where they won first place during the national competition, the second woman from the left is holding their winning trophy as they stand in front of a tan backdrop.

Toran (far right) celebrates with his teammates after UGA's MANRRS chapter won first place in the MANRRS Bowl at the 37th annual MANRRS Training Conference and Career Expo in Atlanta. The national quiz-style competition tested students’ knowledge of agriculture, natural resources and MANRRS history.

For his doctoral research, Toran examined how short-term study abroad programs help students develop the ability to navigate unfamiliar cultures effectively in both their personal and professional lives. His own international travel experiences have been transformative, including a trip to Morocco led by James Anderson, associate professor in the CAES Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication.

“I think everyone should take time to engage with people who see life from a different perspective than they do. That is what Morocco was for me,” he said.

Throughout his time at UGA, Toran found community and professional support through Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), a national organization that contributed to his growth at every stage.

“As a Black man entering the field of agriculture without a traditional background, the journey hasn’t always been easy,” Toran said. “MANRRS has supported and shaped my growth every step of the way.”

Finding a mentor in Anderson has also been central to his journey. Anderson served as Toran’s advisor through both his master’s and doctoral programs, one of several mentors who, as Toran puts it, were “willing to share their time, energy and experiences.”

Toran (far right) celebrates with his teammates after UGA's MANRRS chapter won first place in the MANRRS Bowl at the 37th annual MANRRS Training Conference and Career Expo in Atlanta. The national quiz-style competition tested students’ knowledge of agriculture, natural resources and MANRRS history.

His goal moving forward is to serve as a bridge between people and ideas, between communities and the agricultural systems that sustain them. He is pursuing that goal as a workforce development postdoctoral research scholar at North Carolina State University’s Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein. There he focuses on identifying the skills needed for careers in sustainable protein and developing training programs for community college instructors, work that sits squarely at the crossroads of education, workforce development and the future of food.

“We are all connected to agriculture,” Toran said. “It’s in every fiber of civilization. We must appreciate its role in our lives and how we can help this industry add value to the lives of others.”

Toran (left) wears an orange shirt and stands with mentors in a blue-painted alley in Morocco, potted plants are lining the stairs and walls in the background. — Toran (left) explores Chefchaouen, Morocco, with Cora Keber (center), director of education at the UGA State Botanical Garden and fellow CAES ALEC student, and James C. Anderson II (right), CAES ALEC associate professor and Toran’s longtime mentor.

Toran (left) explores Chefchaouen, Morocco, with Cora Keber (center), director of education at the UGA State Botanical Garden and fellow CAES ALEC student, and James C. Anderson II (right), CAES ALEC associate professor and Toran’s longtime mentor.

Toran wears an orange and purple sweater with matching purple shoes and smiles as he leans against an orange wall.

"Put simply, I aim to do the most good for the most people. I believe that the complex environmental and food system problems we face around the world can be solved when people come together."

Learn more about learning opportunities in the CAES Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication at alec.caes.uga.edu.

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