Stephen Thompson chosen as inaugural faculty director for First-Generation Center Living and Learning Community

Stephen Thompson has an impressive resume of academic and professional achievements, but his career path isn’t something he takes for granted.

“I had no vision of going to college. I’m the only one of five brothers to graduate from high school, and I didn’t have many of the same opportunities as my peers did because my peers and their families knew more about the types of resources available to college students and how to access them,” says Thompson, a professor in the department of teacher education. “All of those past experiences helped to solidify what I wanted to do as a professional.”

Thompson has spent the past two decades in teacher education, preparing future science educators at USC’s College of Education, following his own career teaching science in elementary and middle schools. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Rio Grande College, a master’s degree in science education from Florida State University and a doctorate in education and human development from Vanderbilt University. 

 

On May 16, Thompson took on an additional role: inaugural director of the First-Generation Living and Learning Community. The University of South Carolina has renewed its commitment to first-generation students, who come from families where neither parent holds a 4-year degree and who comprise 1 in 5 of the university’s 30,000+ students. Maxcy Residence Hall has been newly renovated to provide a hub of support and community that incoming first-generation freshmen and returning students can call home. 

Thompson is eager to work more closely with the students living in his community this coming fall. He sees himself as a supportive and encouraging liaison who will be able to help first-generation students navigate the multitude of resources offered by the university as well as access the diverse range of available opportunities beyond the classroom.

“I am pleased to welcome Stephen to the team of faculty directors serving our residential living learning communities,” says Lara Lomicka Anderson, vice provost for undergraduate affairs and dean of undergraduate studies. “The support and engagement provided by faculty directors in these communities has a remarkable impact on boosting retention and student success rates, which is especially important for our first-generation students. I am confident that Stephen will be an invaluable resource to the First-Gen LLC and to all the students who engage with the First-Gen Center.”

As a first-generation graduate himself, Thompson is deeply familiar with the possibilities that a college education can create. He hopes to not only provide guidance on effectively using college resources, but also make students aware of how to prepare for long-term career success, with an additional emphasis on helping develop well-rounded individuals with a sense of community and civic responsibility. 

“There’s a lot of good reasons for me to continue doing what I’m doing. In my role as a professor, I get to help people become teachers, and it’s very impactful to see that spiderweb of impact,” Thompson says. “But working with first generation college students is a different kind of excitement. I didn’t get to where I am professionally without the help of a lot of people, and there’s no way I can ever repay those folks. However, I hope to use the knowledge and empathy I gained from those experiences to create systems that will support future first-generation college students in meaningful ways.”