Jack Thomas (academic)

{{Short description|11th President of Western Illinois University}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jack Thomas

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| alma_mater = Alabama A&M University (BA)
Virginia State University (MEd)
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (PhD)

| predecessor = Alvin Goldfarb

| successor = Martin Abraham (interim)

| spouse = Linda

| children = 2

| office = 11th President of Western Illinois University

| termstart = 2011

| termend = 2019

}}

Dr. Jack Thomas is an American academic administrator who served as the president of the Central State University from 2020 to 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2023/05/17/central-state-university-president-jack-thomas-to-resign-in-june/70223724007/|title=Central State University President Jack Thomas announces he will step down in June|first=Sheridan|last=Hendrix|website=The Columbus Dispatch}} Previously, he served as the 11th President of Western Illinois University from 2011 to 2019.{{cite web|title=Jack Thomas: 11th President of WIU|url=http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=8653|date=January 18, 2011|publisher=Western Illinois University|accessdate=May 18, 2012}} He was the first Black President of Western Illinois University.

Early life and education

Thomas was born in the U.S. He earned a B.A. in English from Alabama A&M University in 1983, a M.Ed. in English Education from Virginia State University in 1984, and a Ph.D. in English Literature and Criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1990.

Career

Prior to his appointment as president of Western Illinois University, Thomas held the post of provost and academic vice president at WIU, beginning in 2008.{{cite web|title=President Jack Thomas|url=http://www.wiu.edu/president/|date=2011|publisher=Western Illinois University|accessdate=May 18, 2012}} Before joining WIU, he held the positions of senior vice provost for academic affairs and interim dean at Middle Tennessee State University, as well as academic posts at University of Maryland Eastern Shore and South Carolina State University.{{cite web|title=Curriculum Vitae|url=http://www.wiu.edu/president/Jack_Thomas_Vitae.pdf|last1=Thomas|first1=Jack|date=2011|publisher=Western Illinois University|accessdate=May 18, 2012|archive-date=June 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614015302/http://www.wiu.edu/president/Jack_Thomas_Vitae.pdf|url-status=dead}}

On June 14, 2019, he announced that he would be resigning from his position as president, effective June 30. Upon Thomas's resignation, incoming provost Martin Abraham succeeded him as the university's acting president while the Board of Trustees conducted a national search for a new president.{{Cite web |url=https://will.illinois.edu/news/story/jack-thomas-resigns-as-western-illinois-university-president |title=Jack Thomas Resigns As Western Illinois University President |date=2019-06-14 |website=Illinois Public Media |language=en |access-date=2019-07-23}}

In July 2020, Thomas became president of Central State University, Ohio's only public historically Black university, amid the COVID-19 campus shutdowns.{{cite web |url=https://www.whio.com/news/local/central-state-investigating-claims-accusing-president-thomas-creating-toxic-work-culture/GANJ4Y5ELFGGBCKEQB63QFOARE/ |title=Central State investigating claims accusing President Thomas of creating 'toxic work culture' |date=2022-12-01 |website=WHIO TV 7 |language=en |access-date=2022-12-03}} His tenure saw the implementation of a strategic plan and a $75 million expansion of the campus, which involved the construction of seven new buildings. He stepped down from his role in May 2023.

Personal life

Thomas and his wife, Linda, have two sons, Patrick and Darius. Since 2005, Dr. Thomas has been a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

References

Category:Living people

Category:Date of birth missing (living people)

Category:Heads of universities and colleges in the United States

Category:American educational theorists

Category:Indiana University of Pennsylvania alumni

Category:Virginia State University alumni

Category:Alabama A&M University alumni

Category:Western Illinois University people

Category:Middle Tennessee State University faculty

Category:University of Maryland Eastern Shore faculty

Category:South Carolina State University faculty

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)