Thorson is Professor Emeritus in the Maxwell School at Syracuse University where he served as Political Science department chair, International Relations program director and was founding director of Maxwell’s Global Affairs Institute (now Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs). Thorson created, designed, and oversaw the implementation of the Maxwell School’s Global Collaboratory, a facility using advanced communications and computing technologies to support global research collaborations and distributed learning. Thorson directed the SU integrated information technology research collaboration with Kim Chaek University of Technology (DPRK) and was co-director of the Regional Scholars and Leaders Seminar initiative. He has published widely in the areas of conflict resolution, science engagement, and decision making.