Linda Thompson
MEMBER
Dr. Linda Thompson is the 21st President of Westfield State University, appointed following a nationwide search and approved by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. She began her presidency on July 1, 2021. Dr. Thompson is recognized as the first Black female to hold this position since the university’s founding in 1839.
Dr. Thompson holds both BSN and MSN degrees from Wayne State University, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in public health from Johns Hopkins University. Her extensive career in higher education and public policy includes roles as Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at UMass Boston, West Chester University in Pennsylvania, and Oakland University in Michigan. She has also served as Provost and Vice Chancellor at North Carolina A&T State University and Associate Dean at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.
Dr. Thompson has a distinguished track record in developing strategic plans to increase enrollment, expand partnerships, secure funding, and enhance diversity. Her public service includes her tenure as Director of Occupational Medicine and Safety in Baltimore and as Maryland’s Special Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families, where she managed an interagency budget of over $350 million to improve healthcare for vulnerable children.
A prolific author, Dr. Thompson has published over 100 articles, books, and abstracts. She has received numerous awards and honors, including induction into the American Academy of Nursing and participation in the White House Conference on Childcare. Her work has been recognized both nationally and internationally.
Dr. Thompson’s leadership at Westfield State University is marked by her commitment to elevating the institution’s student-centered mission and making it one of the best regional universities in the country.
