Jack Thomas

Who is Jack Thomas?

Jack Thomas is the 11th President of Western Illinois University. He was named to the position January 18, 2011, and took office July 1. He succeeded Alvin Goldfarb upon Goldfarb's retirement.

Prior to his appointment as university president, Thomas held the post of provost and academic vice president at WIU, beginning in 2008. Before joining WIU, he held the positions of senior vice provost for academic affairs and interim dean at Middle Tennessee State University; as well as academic posts at University of Maryland Eastern Shore and South Carolina State University. Before joining WIU, he held the positions of senior vice provost for academic affairs and interim dean at Middle Tennessee State University.

Thomas earned his Ph.D. in English Literature and Criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1990; his M.Ed. in English Education from Virginia State University in 1984; and his B.A. in English from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1983.

Thomas and his wife, Linda, have two sons, Patrick and Darius.