University of Redlands
Jen Thompson serves as the Chief of Staff to the President. She is a member of President Krista L. Newkirk’s Cabinet and serves as an advisor to the President and her senior administrative team. Thompson provides support to the President in all areas and serves as the primary liaison to the College’s Board of Trustees. She represents the President with various internal and external constituencies.
Thompson came to the University of Redlands from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, where she served as Chief of Staff for President Robert R. Lindgren.
Prior to Randolph-Macon, Thompson served as Director of External Relations at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Thompson also worked with two large law firms in Washington, D.C. to assist clients in developing federal government relations strategies.
Thompson served as Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Employment, Safety and Training, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions as well as Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business.
In 2003, she was a visiting political science professor at the University of Melbourne School of Law in Melbourne, Australia.
Thompson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Southern Illinois University where she graduated magna cum laude. She later earned her Juris Doctorate and Certificate of International Law from Saint Louis University School of Law, where she was selected to participate in the Faculty Fellowship Program and Jessup International Moot Court.
The chief of staff to the President and general secretary provides specialized services and support to the President and Board of Trustees. The chief of staff acts as a liaison among the President, Board of Trustees, executive staff, the President's Cabinet, academic units, and other similar groups. This position performs special assignments and conducts special administrative tasks and research studies for the President on a wide range of subjects related to the overall management and operation of the University. This position is responsible for the direction and executive oversight of the executive secretary and administrative assistant, daily office operations, office budgets, and all of the activities and services provided by the Office of the President.
