In memoriam: Jonathan Andicoechea
Jonathan Andicoechea, University of Minnesota PhD graduate in Curriculum & Instruction in CEHD, passed away in April 2025. Jonathan, a TRIO champion and passionate educator, had a profound impact on all whom he had an opportunity to meet and interact with, especially the students he taught and mentored. A memorial in the Burton Hall Atrium will be held Thursday, May 8, from 4-6:30 p.m., with a program at 5 p.m. Please join when you are able. Light refreshments provided.
Upon completing his PhD in 2023, Jonathan moved to Corvallis, Oregon, to take a faculty job at Oregon State University in integrative biology, where he got to blend the best of teaching, advising, and programming. It was the perfect job opportunity for him as he would be doing the things he loved. A point of pride for him is that they credited TRIO and his work with ILs, advising, and student engagement as the edge he had in getting the position.
Jonathan served as an instructor for the Integrated Learning (IL) program in TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) for 6 years. He was fundamental in shaping the IL program in its curriculum, instruction, and pedagogy; engaging students in active learning; and promoting professional development experiences for himself and his IL colleagues. His collaborative and solutions-focused approach forged strong partnerships and relationships with faculty in the biology department in ways that greatly impacted TRIO's ability to serve students.
Jonathan shared his passion for science and love of learning by helping students secure research opportunities and jobs, supporting them as they got published, working to ensure equity in the classroom, and serving as a mentor as they navigated their college journeys and beyond. He will be remembered for instilling a sense of fun, wit, and wonder through opportunities like Nutty for Knowledge, Nitrogen Ice Cream, and the annual retreat, Nature Walk & Wellness. Jonathan cared deeply about this work and supporting students’ personal and professional success.
Jonathan’s research mirrored his passion for teaching and learning biology and helping all students develop a love of science. He worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Biology Teaching and Learning to understand how gender grouping impacted non-majors’ engagement and scientific reasoning. Jonathan’s scholarly interest in how students’ experiences affect their learning also shone through in his approach as an educator. He valued his students as whole learners, met them from the place where they are starting, and helped them grow from there. He provided scaffolding and support so that students could take on ambitious projects and be successful with them, and he provided them with opportunities to practice different types of assessments, to improve their ability to demonstrate their learning.
Jonathan inspired all who had the opportunity to work with him whether they were peers, students or faculty. He will truly be missed.