A Productive Start

Selected by the Board of Trustees to serve as Westfield State University’s 21st president on April 28, 2021, Dr. Linda Thompson is the first black female to serve in this role since the founding of the institution in 1839.

The reaction to her appointment has been celebrated and her humanistic approach to leadership lauded through numerous media outlets, as the campus, regional, and higher educational communities have learned more about her career and vision to move the University forward together.

A collection of the notable media placements garnered since Dr. Thompson’s appointment appears below.

Linda Thompson: Inclusive approach continues at Westfield State (viewpoint) – masslive.com | Nov. 25, 2021

Linda Thompson: Education is a ticket out of poverty (viewpoint) - masslive.com | Oct. 29, 2021

Giving students a ‘different lens’: Western Massachusetts higher education leaders reflect growing diversity – The Republican | Oct. 24, 2021

Linda Thompson: Westfield State University’s commitment to diversity continues (Viewpoint) - masslive.com | Oct. 5, 2021

Nuevas iniciativas brindan más oportunidades para los hispanos en Westfield State University - masslive.com | Oct. 4, 2021

New in town: Meet President Thompson | The Westfield Voice | Sept. 27, 2021

♫ NightSide With Dan Rea | NightSide focuses on a wide variety of issues, political, economic and social. Rea believes that talk radio is the best way for people to communicate their opinions and ideas on what he calls “North America’s Virtual Back Porch.” Rea encourages challenging conversations and diverse ideas combined with respect and tolerance for the opinion of others. But don’t think for a moment that NightSide is anything but provocative, always interesting and at times, passionate and emotional. 642427 (iheart.com) | Sept. 8, 2021

WSU president will draw from public health, leadership experience | The Westfield News |August 18, 2021

WSU’s New Leader Brings Experience in Education, Public Policy - BusinessWest | July 7, 2021

Linda Thompson Will Be the Twenty-First President of Westfield State University in Massachusetts : Women In Academia Report (wiareport.com) | June 9, 2021

Thompson appointment approved by Board of Higher Education | The Westfield News |May 19, 2021