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 Scholar, Honduras; academic roles at the University of St. Catherine, Minnesota; the University of Missouri-Columbia; and Charles Sturt University, Australia; currently an adjunct professor (research) for Charles Sturt University, Australia; advisory board for Honduras University Pedagogical Nacional Francisco Morazan MLIS program; honorary research fellow for The University of West Indies, Faculty of Humanities and Education.

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 and qualitative methods to examine conceptualizations of information and belonging in a range of social contexts.

Grants and Research

IMLS National Leadership Grant 2022-2025: The Practice Model for an Equitable Workplace Transition Program: Disability and Neurodiversity (collaboration with University of Denver; $73,104/$149,880)

Critical analysis of library job ads in the US and Australia 2017-ongoing (with Clayton A. Copeland and others)

Book in process: Dali, K. & Thompson, K. M. (Eds.). Disabled and neurodiverse staff: Toward inclusion in the library and information science workforce. Rowman & Littlefield.

Courses Recently Taught

• Research Methods & Design
• Information Literacy & Technology
• Ethics, Values, and Foundational Principles of Library and Information Science Professions
• Leadership in Information Organizations
• Problems in Library & Information Organization Administration
• Research Issues in Library and Information Science
• Information & Society

Recent Publications

Wan, Y., & Thompson, K. M. (2025). Conceptualising belonging: How LIS education can cultivate a truly inclusive future for neurodivergent and disabled information professionals. Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 1–22. 

Dali, K. & Thompson, K. M. (2025). An equitable workplace transition program. Phase 6 of the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grant (#LG-252342-OLS-22). 

Dali, K. & Thompson, K. M. (2025). Guidelines for changing workplace policies and practices. Phase 5 of the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grant (#LG-252342-OLS-22). 

Dali, K., Thompson, K. M., & Gillespie, C. (2025). Policy analysis: The summary report. Phase 4 of the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grant (#LG-252342-OLS-22). 

Dali, K. & Thompson, K. M. (2025). Employment experiences of MLIS of disabled and neurodiverse MLIS graduates: The summary report. Phase 1 of the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grant (#LG-252342-OLS-22). 

Recent Presentations and Workshops

Thompson, K. M., Dali, K., McLure, M., & Carey, F. C. (2025, April 15). Hiring and retention: Supporting disabled and neurodiverse librarians. Presented as the 2025 University of the West Indies-Mona Library and Information Science Daphne Douglas Lecture, Kingston, Jamaica.

Dali, K., Thompson, K. M., McLure, M., & Carey, F.C. (2025, April 11). Making libraries inclusive of disabled and neurodiverse employees. Juried presentation for 17^th Bridging the Spectrum Symposium, 11 April, Washington D.C.

Thompson, K. M. (2025). The Good Life: How to Reduce Over-teaching. University of South Carolina Center for Teaching Excellence workshop.

Service

• Curriculum Advisory Fellow: The University of the West Indies at Mona (Jamaica) Library and Information Studies undergraduate and graduate programs, 2024-2025
• Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Excellence in Teaching Award Committee, Chair, 2023-2025
• USC Assistant/Associate Deans Council, Chair, 2023-2025
• USC Provost Advisory Council for Interdisciplinary Programs, since 2023
• USC Assistant/Associate Graduate Deans Council, Member, since 2019
• Co-Convener of the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Disabilities in Library and Information Science Special Interest Group, since 2019
• Adjunct Professor (research): School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University (Australia), since 2018
• Editorial board: The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion, since 2015
• Advisory Board: Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco Morazán (Honduras) Master of Library and Information Science program, since 2010
• Editorial board: The Library Quarterly, since 2008