CPE President Aaron Thompson to visit MSU
Dr. Aaron Thompson, President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, will visit Morehead State University Sept. 26 and 27 to meet with University leadership, faculty, staff, students and the greater Rowan County community.
A Q&A forum is open to the public and will take place Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. in Room 326 of the Adron Doran University Center. Key topics will include pathways for students and adults to pursue and receive a college degree or credential, job placement opportunities and collaborative partnerships between universities, CPE and communities.
Thompson’s visit to Morehead State will also include a meet and greet with MSU campus leadership and listening session with students at 2:30 p.m.. on Sept. 26 in Room 326 of the Adron Doran University Center. On Sept. 27, he will also be a featured speaker at the 6th Annual Tri-State Conference on Diversity & Inclusion being held at MSU and will meet later that day with student leaders at Rowan County Senior High School.
“We are very grateful to President Thompson for his leadership and advocacy of higher education,” said Dr. Jay Morgan, Morehead State University President. “We encourage those in the community to attend the public listening session. This will be a valuable opportunity to discuss vital partnerships between higher education and our communities, and continue a dialogue on both the importance and responsibility that higher education holds.”
Thompson is a nationally recognized leader in higher education with a focus on policy, student success and organizational leadership and design. He was named President of the Council in October 2018. He came to the Council in 2009 from Eastern Kentucky University, where he held a variety of leadership positions, including Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, University Programs. In May 2016, he left the Council to serve as Interim President for Kentucky State University and returned to the Council in summer 2017.
His leadership experience spans 27 years across higher education, business and numerous non-profit boards. Thompson has researched, taught and consulted in areas of diversity, leadership, ethics, multicultural families, race and ethnic relations, student success, first-year students, retention, cultural competence and organizational design throughout his career.
“I’m looking forward to visiting with Morehead State University students, faculty, staff and the broader community,” Thompson said. “I hope to learn from their perspectives what we need to do to improve higher education overall, including pathways to careers, as well as what we’re doing well and the opportunities we can leverage moving forward.”
