Maria Thompson facts for kids

Maria Thompson is an American scientist and a leader in education. She is known for being the 7th president of Coppin State University, a college located in Baltimore, Maryland. What makes her leadership special is that she was the first woman ever to be president of Coppin State University.

Early Life and Learning

Maria Thompson grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. She loved learning and went to Tennessee State University (TSU) for her first college degree, which is called a bachelor's degree. After that, she continued her studies at Ohio State University, where she earned a Master of Science degree in textiles. Textiles are materials like cloth and fabric. She then went on to get her highest degree, a doctorate, from the University of Tennessee. Her doctorate focused on textile science and the business side of textiles.

Her Career Journey

Maria Thompson spent 13 years working at Tennessee State University (TSU) in important roles related to research. She helped manage many research projects. Before she left TSU, she was the vice president for research and sponsored programs. This means she was in charge of all the research activities and finding money to support them.

After her time at TSU, she moved to the State University of New York at Oneonta. There, she worked for four years as the provost and vice president for academic affairs. A provost is like a chief academic officer, helping to lead all the teaching and learning programs at the university.

Leading Coppin State University

On July 1, 2015, Maria Thompson became the 7th president of Coppin State University. This was a very important moment because she was the first woman to hold this top leadership position at the university. She worked hard to lead the university and help its students and staff. In June 2019, she decided to step down from her role as president. She made this decision after recovering from cancer, choosing to focus on her health.

Personal Life

Maria Thompson is a strong person who has faced challenges, including being a cancer survivor. In December 2018, she married her long-time partner, Joseph Perry. Today, she lives in Nashville, Tennessee, the city where she grew up.

See also

• List of women presidents or chancellors of co-ed colleges and universities