“While serving as interim dean for more than a year, Cindy has demonstrated strong leadership, particularly in leading the libraries through the many challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lundgren said. “She has demonstrated her commitment to our diversity and inclusion values by fostering an organizational culture that encourages open dialogue and produces tangible outcomes.” Lundgren said those outcomes include a library-wide action plan and revision of the libraries’ Safe and Respectful Environment policy.

Thompson has served as chair of the UMKC Institutional Review Board since 2016. She has augmented the libraries’ resources by leading a dramatic increase in grant applications and strengthening resource-sharing relationships with other institutions. Lundgren said she also has been an effective and impactful advocate and ambassador for UMKC libraries across the state and the UM System. She served as president of the Missouri Library Association for 2021.

Thompson is an alumna, holding a UMKC Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration, and Public Affairs and Administration. She received a master’s degree in Information Science and Learning Technologies, with an emphasis in Library Science, from UM-Columbia.

As dean, she said she will continue to work on implementation of innovative libraries services for students and faculty, with an emphasis on support for student academic success and faculty research and scholarship.