J Michael Thompson

Bio

J. Michael Thompson brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education and the software industry to XAP, and is a nationally-recognized innovative leader in the use of technology to support services to students and their families.

Prior to joining XAP, Mr. Thompson served as Vice Provost of Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at the University of Southern California (USC) where he directed the university's enrollment efforts, including student recruitment, admission policies, student application processing, and student aid. During his tenure at USC, he led the development and implementation of Preparing for College, a college preparation tool translated into seven different languages and used around the world.

From 1995 to 2002, Mr. Thompson was Associate Vice Chancellor of Outreach, Admission and Student Academic Services at UC Santa Cruz where he led the UC-system-wide effort to develop the UC Gateways Project, which won an IBM Best Practices in Student Services award in 2001. As Registrar and Director of Student Academic Information Systems at UC Irvine from 1991 to 1995, Mr. Thompson was instrumental in developing Pathways, one of the first web-based university application processes implemented in the UC system.

Mr. Thompson has written articles and lectured around the world on the effective use of technology in admission and student services. His diverse experience and understanding of educational and industry needs – public and private colleges, small to large universities, and the private sector – make him a knowledgeable advocate in how technology can improve the lives of students and their families.