Education

B.A., English, Brigham Young University
M.S., Library and Information Studies, Florida State University
Ph.D., Library and Information Studies, Florida State University

Background

US Fulbright, Honduras; Senior Fellow, Information Policy & Access Center, University of Maryland; academic roles at the University of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN; the University of Missouri-Columbia; and Charles Sturt University, Australia.

Research

Professor Kim Thompson's research contributes to the field of Library and Information Science with a global focus on the relationship between information access and social inclusion.  Her research uses critical inquiry of current information policy and historical and qualitative methods to examine conceptualizations of digital inclusion, information access and information poverty. 

Grants and Research

IMLS National Leadership Grant 2022-2024: The Practice Model for an Equitable Workplace Transition Program: Disability and Neurodiversity (collaboration with University of Denver; $73,104/$149,880)

CIC Internal Research Grants 2019: How Do Vaping Myths/Misinformation Circulate on Social/Digital Media? (with Jungmi Jun and Ehsan Mohammadi; $9,950)

Teaching

Thompson strives to create an authentic and engaged learning environment, setting assignments that exercise student analytical skills needed in professional practice. She has won numerous teaching awards including a Faculty of Arts and Education Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning 2018; 2015 Web-based Information Studies Education Excellence in Online Education Teaching Award; Outstanding Subject Delivery Award 2014; and was honored in the CSU School of Information Studies Teaching Hall of Fame in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011 for excellence in teaching, as determined by student evaluations.

Recent Publications

Thompson, K. M. & Jaeger, P. T., & Copeland, C. A. (2023). A tripartite approach to designing an inclusive hiring experience and an inclusive workplace. In C. A. Copeland (Ed.). Disabilities and the library: Fostering equity for patrons and staff with differing abilities. ABC-CLIO.

Copeland, C. A. & Thompson, K. M. (2022). Equity, diversity, and inclusion in the LIS education and practice sectors: Creating accessible learning environments and informing social justice through universal design. In B. Mehra (Ed.), Social Justice Design and Implementation in Library and Information Science (pp. 190-201). Routledge.

Wakelee, A. A. & Thompson, K. M. (2022). Spanish-speakers preferred: How libraries can make their workforce better reflect their communities. Juried paper presented at the Association for Library and Information Science Education 2022 Conference: Go Back and Get It—From One Narrative to Many, 24-26 October, 2022, Pittsburgh, PA.

Thompson, K. M., & Copeland, C. (2021). Making the diversity, equity, and inclusion mindset indispensable in the LIS classroom through design, content, communication, and assessment. In K. Dali & N. Caidi (Eds.). Humanizing LIS education and practice: Diversity by design (pp. 63-76).Routledge.

Reed, A., & Thompson, K. M. (2021). Never waste a crisis: Digital inclusion for sustainable development in the context of the COVID pandemic/不失危机展机遇：新冠疫情中可持续发展的数字包容. Library Journal (China), 40(2), 14-16.

Muir, R., Qayyum, A., & Thompson K. M. (2021, July/August). Jumping hurdles: ‘Hurdle wording’ and hiring for diversity and inclusion. InCite: Magazine of the Australian Library and Information Association, 42(4), 10-11. 

Thompson, K. M., & Reed, A. (2021). Learning from pandemic mode to create a sustainable digital future: Using a tripartite model of information access and digital inclusion. The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion, 5(3). 

Service

Thompson is an active editorial board member for The Library Quarterly and the International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion. She is Treasurer/Co-Convener of the ALISE Disabilities in Library and Information Science SIG. Thompson is also an active member of the Advisory Board for the Library and Information Science master's degree program at the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco Morazán (Honduras) and an adjunct Associate Professor (thesis supervision) for the School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University (Australia).