Mark A. Thompson

Mark A. Thompson, Ph.D., became the fifth president of Wentworth Institute of Technology on June 1, 2019.

His career in higher education spans more than 25 years—from teaching and advising students at Marshall University and Morehouse College to serving in senior-administration roles at Quinnipiac University.

Thompson was at Quinnipiac for 21 years (beginning in 1998) before accepting the presidency at Wentworth. He served there as associate dean of the school of business and later as executive vice president and provost. Among other accomplishments at Quinnipiac, Thompson led the establishment of engineering and medical schools. He earned a reputation as a popular advocate for students and valued, progressive member of the university community.

Earlier in his career, Thompson directed the Center for Business and Economic Research and was an assistant professor of economics at Marshall University’s Elizabeth McDowell Lewis College of Business.

He has a bachelor’s degree in economics-finance from Bentley University, an M.B.A. from Western New England University, and Ph.D. in economics from Georgia State University.

His expertise includes urban and regional economics, and economic development. He has worked on regional economic initiatives with many private and public constituents and, as part of those efforts, completed more than 100 technical reports—ranging from economic impact assessments and strategic plans, to feasibility studies and business proposals.

Thompson’s academic research has focused on the consequences of residential housing segregation, issues related to labor market discrimination and assessing the impact of intellectual property rights on the economic growth rates of developing countries. His work appears in academic journals including Economic Development Quarterly, Journal of Economic Development, Journal of Enterprising Culture and Journal of Economics and Finance.

He has also written a book chapter under a grant from the Russell Sage Foundation and made numerous conference presentations.