Keynote Speaker for 2013
Dr. Thompson is the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Council on Postsecondary Education and a Professor of Sociology in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Eastern Kentucky University. Thompson has a Ph.D. in Sociology in areas of Organizational Behavior/Race and Gender relations. Thompson has researched, taught and/or consulted in areas of assessment, diversity, leadership, ethics, research methodology and social statistics, multicultural families, race and ethnic relations, student success, first-year students, retention, and organizational design. He is nationally recognized in the areas of educational attainment and academic success, leadership, equity and gap closing, diversity and cultural competence, law enforcement training, curriculum development, African American fatherhood, divorce in the Black family, and Black and White differences in marital expectations.
His recent authored or co-authored books are “Peer to Peer Leadership:Changing Student Culture from the Ground Up” and "The Sociological Outlook," "Infusing Diversity and Cultural Competence into Teacher Education", “Humanity, Diversity, & the Liberal Arts: Foundation of a College Education,” “Thriving in the Community College & Beyond: Strategies for Academic Success and Personal Development,” “Diversity and the College Experience,” “Thriving in College and Beyond: Research-Based Strategies for Academic Success and Personal Development,” “Focus on Success” and “Black Men and Divorce”. He has more than 30 publications and numerous research and peer reviewed presentations.
Thompson has traveled over the U.S. and internationally and has given more than 800 workshops, seminars and invited lectures in areas of leadership, strategic planning, race and gender diversity, living an unbiased life, overcoming obstacles to gain success, social justice, adult learners, effective board relations, creating a school environment for academic success, school leadership (p-20), cultural competence, workplace interaction, organizational goal setting, building relationships, the first-year seminar, and a variety of other topics. He has been or is a consultant to educational institutions, corporations, non-profit organizations, police departments, and other governmental agencies. In addition, Thompson’s research has been cited in popular publications such as Cosmopolitan, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sentinel, Tampa Tribune and others.