Continuing its commitment to leveraging the national resources of higher education in service to the nation’s veterans and military families, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF) has announced the appointment of Roger Thompson, professor of English and fine arts at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), as an IVMF Senior Fellow.
Thompson is a respected teacher and scholar, accomplished public speaker and award-winning writer. At VMI, he directs an innovative cross-disciplinary international research and writing program that works to bridge the divide between military training and civilian workplace experience. His current research aims to provide colleges and universities with models for how best to facilitate veteran transition from military service to higher education. His work focuses on the ethical responsibilities civilians have in listening to and caring for veterans during the current climate of an all-volunteer military.
Thompson’s areas of expertise include writing and trauma, veteran transition to higher education, veterans and the writing classroom, veteran centers, interdisciplinary approaches to veterans studies and literature of war. He is currently at work on an introduction to veterans studies. The author of more than 20 articles in some of the top journals in his field, Thompson is also co-author of the acclaimed Iraq War memoir, “Beyond Duty: Life on the Frontline in Iraq” (Polity Press, 2009) with IVMF communications specialist and U.S. Army veteran Shannon P. Meehan. Covered by a wide range of media, the book led to numerous speaking engagements around the country, through which Thompson has addressed audiences at more than a dozen schools on the issues of trauma and war, and has produced a wide range of publications to address veteran issues.
As an IVMF fellow, Thompson will have the opportunity to produce original research and develop research briefs to summarize his academic work in response to/as it relates to salient social, economic, public policy and wellness issues impacting veterans and military families. IVMF research briefs are disseminated throughout the institute’s stakeholder network and maintained online as part of a searchable research library. Thompson will also have the opportunity to present his research at various symposia that include representatives from business, industry, government, non-governmental agencies, higher education and other fields. In addition, he has the opportunity to become a contributor to the IVMF “Voices” blog and submit op-ed style pieces on a topic relevant to the veteran and military family communities. Blog postings are highlighted to senior community stakeholders in government and industry, and optimized for web-based searches on relevant subject matter.
“We are thrilled to have Roger join our esteemed cadre of IVMF Fellows, to focus his considerable knowledge and expertise toward addressing the challenges faced by America’s veterans and military families,” says Mike Haynie, IVMF executive director and founder. “A central component of the IVMF’s research mission is to inform national dialogue focused on policy, social and economic concerns facing veterans and military families. Over the past year, we have been working to conduct a strategic analysis of these issues and challenges, to include a review of existing policy, programs and academic research. As an IVMF senior fellow, Roger will have a voice in this ongoing effort.”
Thompson resides in Lexington, Va., with his wife and son.
