April 30th – Dr. Aaron Thompson

LEXINGTON, KY – The Rotary Club of Lexington held its weekly meeting  virtually Thursday, April 30th. 

Our Guest speaker was Aaron Thompson, President, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

Dr. Aaron Thompson is a passionate advocate for higher education. As a first-generation college student from rural Clay County, Kentucky, he experienced first-hand the transformative power of a college credential. As president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), he works to ensure all Kentuckians have an equal opportunity to improve their lives through postsecondary education.

Before taking the helm of CPE, Thompson served as interim president of Kentucky State University and as executive vice president, provost, and faculty member at Eastern Kentucky University. He has extensive leadership experience within the private and non-profit sectors and is a highly sought-after national speaker. Dr. Thompson has authored or co-authored numerous books and peer-reviewed publications on diversity, cultural competence, first-year experience programs, retention, and student success, among other topics. In 2019, he was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

Thompson received his doctoral degree in sociology from the University of Kentucky, with an emphasis on organizational leadership. He earned a master’s degree in industrial sociology from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Eastern Kentucky University.

For additional information, or to be included in this meeting, please contact Peggy Trafton at [email protected]. 

401 West Main Street • Suite 305 • Lexington, KY 40507 • (859) 389-8100