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CONFERENCE FEATURE
DR. TOM (H.J.) THOMPSON
2016 PAUL A. ELSNER
INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE
IN LEADERSHIP
DR. TOM (H.J.)
THOMPSON AND ADVICE THAT CAN
LIFETIME WORK
GUIDE YOUR LEADERSHIP
OF LEADERSHIP
AWARD RECIPIENT
By Jason Dewling, member of the International Practitioners Board
The Chair Academy’s most prestigious award is the Paul A. Elsner International Excellence in Leadership Award,
granted only to the top leaders in the post-secondary education sector. Given that this year’s conference marks the
25th anniversary for the Chair Academy, the Academy could not have made a better choice than Olds College’s
President, Dr. Tom (H.J.) Thompson.
In the world of sports, there are people who stand above their peers: Jordan in basketball, Woods in golf, Gretzky
in hockey, and the Williams sisters in tennis. This parallels the career of Dr. Thompson, who stands as a giant
amongst his peers in both Canada and the U.S. Considered Canada’s best mind in board governance, Colleges and
Institutes Canada utilizes his governance presentation each year in orienting aspiring leaders. He was also recently
acknowledged by the Rural Community College Alliance as the frst Canadian to receive the Autry Leadership Award.
Aside from awards and accolades, what makes him so special? personal sense of adventure and some change in his life, he
Coming from a background of marketing in professional took an instructional job in the School of Business at Grand
sports, he certainly saw the world of higher education through Prairie College in Northern Alberta. He spent 15 years in
a diferent lens. Early in Tom’s career, he was a university Grande Prairie where he moved from instructor to chair to vice
basketball coach and the infamous John Wooden became a key president and then president. While in Grande Prairie he also
mentor in his life. He conducted basketball clinics with some chaired the Canada Winter Games, hailed as one of the best
of the top basketball minds in North America including the ever in this nation. He joined Olds College in June of 2001 and
likes of Bobby Knight and Hubie Brown. Tis led to a career he has carved out a reputation as a creative and entrepreneurial
in sports marketing where he worked for professional football leader who is instrumental in advancing the college and the
leagues in both Canada and the United States. Following a higher education system.
LEADERSHIP Vol. 22.1 Spring/Summer 2016 9
Client: The Chair Academy Job: Leadership_Journal_22.1 SPRING/SUMMER 2016 Final size: 8.5” x 11” Colors: CMYK Bleeds: Yes
Created by: Goldfsh Creative - Laura Dvir • 602.349.2220 • goldfshcreates@q.com
DR. TOM (H.J.) THOMPSON
2016 PAUL A. ELSNER
INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE
IN LEADERSHIP
DR. TOM (H.J.)
THOMPSON AND ADVICE THAT CAN
LIFETIME WORK
GUIDE YOUR LEADERSHIP
OF LEADERSHIP
AWARD RECIPIENT
By Jason Dewling, member of the International Practitioners Board
The Chair Academy’s most prestigious award is the Paul A. Elsner International Excellence in Leadership Award,
granted only to the top leaders in the post-secondary education sector. Given that this year’s conference marks the
25th anniversary for the Chair Academy, the Academy could not have made a better choice than Olds College’s
President, Dr. Tom (H.J.) Thompson.
In the world of sports, there are people who stand above their peers: Jordan in basketball, Woods in golf, Gretzky
in hockey, and the Williams sisters in tennis. This parallels the career of Dr. Thompson, who stands as a giant
amongst his peers in both Canada and the U.S. Considered Canada’s best mind in board governance, Colleges and
Institutes Canada utilizes his governance presentation each year in orienting aspiring leaders. He was also recently
acknowledged by the Rural Community College Alliance as the frst Canadian to receive the Autry Leadership Award.
Aside from awards and accolades, what makes him so special? personal sense of adventure and some change in his life, he
Coming from a background of marketing in professional took an instructional job in the School of Business at Grand
sports, he certainly saw the world of higher education through Prairie College in Northern Alberta. He spent 15 years in
a diferent lens. Early in Tom’s career, he was a university Grande Prairie where he moved from instructor to chair to vice
basketball coach and the infamous John Wooden became a key president and then president. While in Grande Prairie he also
mentor in his life. He conducted basketball clinics with some chaired the Canada Winter Games, hailed as one of the best
of the top basketball minds in North America including the ever in this nation. He joined Olds College in June of 2001 and
likes of Bobby Knight and Hubie Brown. Tis led to a career he has carved out a reputation as a creative and entrepreneurial
in sports marketing where he worked for professional football leader who is instrumental in advancing the college and the
leagues in both Canada and the United States. Following a higher education system.
LEADERSHIP Vol. 22.1 Spring/Summer 2016 9
Client: The Chair Academy Job: Leadership_Journal_22.1 SPRING/SUMMER 2016 Final size: 8.5” x 11” Colors: CMYK Bleeds: Yes
Created by: Goldfsh Creative - Laura Dvir • 602.349.2220 • goldfshcreates@q.com
