Dr. Thornton is a transformative supply chain expert, focused on using supply chain principles to improve society.
Dr. Thornton is an Assistant Professor at Auburn University.
Let Your Light Shine
Using research to shine a light on how business can make a difference
My Background
After receiving my bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Purchasing, Transportation & Logistics from The Ohio State University, I spent 7 years working in healthcare supply chains. Eventually, I needed a change and wanted to explore how I could help the community. I decided to return to school and earn my doctorate from the University of Tennessee.
After conducting research for several years, I began to reevaluate my research identity. I pivoted my research to what mattered to me, and I began to explore humanitarian supply chains. More specifically, I am interested in societal well-being as it relates to supply chain decisions made by organizations dealing with food waste and serving the food insecure.
Research Interests
According to Feeding America, approximately 1 in 8 Americans are food insecure. Hence an estimated 38 million Americans, which includes 12 million children worry about their next meal.
I study the supply chains of organizations who serve the food insecure. My research explores how organizations who help the food insecure can improve their supply chain processes. I seek to help organizations who want to “Feed the Line” and “Shorten the Line”.
