In 2020, Dr. Thompson received the Isaac Murphy Government Partner of the Year Award for progress in diversity, equity and inclusion.
LEXINGTON, KY, November 03, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Aaron Thompson has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
During his collegiate studies, Dr. Thompson realized that education was the right professional path for him and enrolled in a sociology class that allowed him to understand his own motivations. He had also been a good orator, which he figured would help him impart knowledge and wisdom on others. As an African American person, Dr. Thompson was inspired to excel due to the lack of academic support available to people of color, which influenced him to dedicate his resources to help those like him.
Dr. Thompson has obtained a Bachelor of Arts in political science and sociology from Eastern Kentucky University as well as a Master of Arts in sociology and Doctor of Philosophy in sociology from the University of Kentucky. Prior to receiving his doctorate, he worked in the corporate world for nearly 10 years, during which time he was able to cultivate organizational, management and leadership skills. For nearly 30 years, he has found success as an educator and an academic administrator, having held the posts of the president of Kentucky State University and an associate vice president of academic affairs at Eastern Kentucky University.
Dr. Thompson has further flourished as a professor for more than 20 years before retiring in 2018 and accepting a designation as a professor emeritus. In 2009, he was recruited to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, with which he currently serves as the first African American chief executive officer. In this position, he oversees the development of a statewide strategic agenda for higher education, the biennial budget request for the state's public colleges and universities, licensing of private colleges and universities, and sets the statewide standard for education including tuition and academic programs. Throughout his career, Dr. Thompson has been a passionate advocate for higher education for all, with a special focus on closing opportunity gaps among underrepresented and low-income students, as well as promoting culturally competent graduates. Toward these efforts, he launched a Higher Education Matters campaign to improve public understanding that postsecondary education is key to greater opportunity and economic growth.
For his stellar efforts in his career and community, Dr. Thompson is an inductee in Kentucky's Civil Rights Hall of Fame and is recognized in Kentucky statute for his lifelong accomplishments (Senate Bill 129). He has additionally received various local honors from the City of Richmond and numerous service awards from Eastern Kentucky University, such as Distinguished Alumni, and an Outstanding Faculty Award from the University of Missouri. In 2020, Dr. Thompson received the Isaac Murphy Government Partner of the Year Award for progress in diversity, equity and inclusion, and the Health Care Governance Leadership Award from the Kentucky Hospital Association in 2021.
In addition to his primary professional endeavors, Dr. Thompson also offered his expertise to the field as a contributor to numerous professional journals and is the author of more than 20 books, including Diversity &Cultural Competence into Teacher Education, Humanity, Diversity &The Liberal Arts, as well as a popular series of textbooks focused on Thriving in College & Beyond.
Dr. Thompson currently contributes to the Board of Baptist Health, Inc. and the National Council on Education and the Economy, in addition to the Kentucky Board of Education. Most notably, his community established a foundation against racism and discrimination in his honor known as The Thompson Scholars. Looking toward the future, Dr. Thompson plans to publish more books, including an autobiography.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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