As a rural sociologist, Dan Tobin focuses his research on the impacts of agricultural markets, policies, and environmental change on rural farming communities. His projects span the globe, from the Consortium for Crop Genetic Heritage at UVM, native potato production research in rural Peruvian communities, to crop diversity and child nutrition studies in Sub-Saharan African countries. He is an assistant professor in the UVM Community Development and Applied Economics Department (CDAE), and a faculty fellow with the Gund Institute.
Tobin brings his “real world” experiences to the classroom, teaching courses on rural and agricultural development topics that include a travel course to Peru. Students in this course contribute to ongoing research on smallholder farms in the country, while partnering with a local non-governmental organization. This hallmark style of experiential learning was a factor for Tobin receiving the 2023 UVM Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award.
Plant and Soil Science Associate Professor Eric Bishop-von Wettberg has known Tobin from their past collaborations, and as the director of the UVM Food Systems graduate program. Wettberg considers Tobin to be “a gifted scholar, an inspiring teacher, a caring mentor, and enthusiastic community member willing to do essential service.” He also stated, “Even when students aren’t traveling internationally to experience rural development firsthand, Dr. Tobin’s ability to bring these experiences to bear in his lectures and assignments sparks his students’ interest and passion.”
During the spring of 2020, Tobin and CDAE Associate Professor Dan Baker prepared for the Peru travel course, CDAE 171: Community and International Economic Transformation. The COVID pandemic kept the students from traveling, so Tobin seamlessly transitioned the course online. He collaborated with a Peruvian NGO to develop a service-learning project for the students to collect data on farming community needs. Student were very appreciative about the learning experience, with one remarking, “One of Dr. Tobin’s most outstanding qualities is his ability to push students to think critically, especially when it comes to complex and sensitive topics that often surface in development projects.” Another student from the course stated, “The project component of this class allows students…an opportunity for them to take what they learn and apply it towards a project that will later be implemented in the real world.”
Tobin’s teaching and mentorship abilities extend to students in the Food Systems Graduate Program, by training and encouraging them to improve their skills in research, participatory methods, and publishing. Under his supervision, a student’s writing improved to the extent that their manuscript was accepted for review in the Journal of Extension. Another student was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and so far, has published two research papers with Tobin.
After learning about the award, Tobin stated, “I am deeply honored to be recognized for the Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching award. Teaching is the most rewarding part of what I do. The students make it easy, though; they are inspiring and are equally responsible for creating rich learning environments. It is an absolute privilege getting to interact with them on a daily basis.”
The Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Awards recognize faculty for excellent undergraduate instruction. They memorialize Robert H. and Ruth M. Kroepsch and her parents, Walter C., and Mary L. Maurice. Robert H. Kroepsch served as registrar and dean of administration at UVM from 1946-1956. Ruth graduated from UVM in 1938 and her father, Walter Maurice, graduated from UVM in 1909. All four were teachers. The Kroepsch-Maurice Awards are administered under the authority of the Office of the Provost in support of academic excellence in teaching and learning. Each year one faculty member in each of the four rank categories (Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Clinical Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor) receives this honor.