Jeff Thompson
Courtesy Photo
Jeff Thompson, a longtime faculty member and administrator, at the University of Nevada, Reno, was named Executive Vice President and Provost, effective Dec. 13.
His appointment comes following a national search and support from the Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), Dr. Melody Rose, according to a Dec. 13 press release from UNR.
Thompson served as Interim Executive Vice President and Provost of the University since December 2020.
"For the past year, Jeff’s work has been instrumental in the University’s ongoing Strategic Planning process, as well as successfully steering the University’s academic and faculty affairs through a challenging time due to the pandemic," UNR President Brian Sandoval said in a statement. "Jeff has served the University well over the years, and I look forward to continue working with him for many more as we navigate the challenges before us and move the University in bold new directions."
Prior to the interim position, Thompson was Dean of the College of Science for more than a decade. He joined the faculty of the University's Department of Physics in 1991, and he served as Chair of the Department of Physics and Associate Dean of the College of Science prior to becoming Dean of the College of Science in 2008.
"This is a great honor and I appreciate the support and confidence from the Wolf Pack Family," Thompson said in a statement. "The past year as Interim Provost has given me an even keener connection to a campus culture that I've be fortunate to be a part of for so many years. Those connections are valuable as we continue and build on the path of a positive teaching, research and outreach environment for faculty and an exceptional educational experience for students."
Thompson is a graduate of UCLA, where he received a Bachelor of Science in physics. He received his doctorate in physics from the University of Tennessee and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics at the University of Colorado.
