DR.
JUDITH A.W. THOMAS
Biographical
Sketch
Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Behavioral Studies, past
Chair of the Education Department, past interim Vice President for
Enrollment Planning and Student Life and past Chair of the Social
Sciences and Behavioral Studies Division at Lincoln University in
Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, Dr. Thomas is the recipient of numerous
awards. Most recently her biographical sketch was selected for publication
in the Pennsylvania Commission for Women’s Role Modeling Book
for Minority Women.
In February,
2006, Dr. Thomas was honored with the President’s Award from
the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education. Dr. Thomas
was also honored with the C. Delores Tucker Award by the Pennsylvania
Legislative Black Caucus in 2006. Moreover, Dr. Thomas was featured
in the February 2005 Black History Month issue of American Legacy
Magazine in a special section entitled “Teaching Black History
Today.” In the Spring of 2003, Dr. Thomas was the recipient
of the “Most Eloquent” and “Most Dedicated Academic
Dean” Awards from the Lincoln University Student Body. In February,
2002 she was presented the W.E.B. DuBois Community Service Award by
the President of the Harrisburg Community College. Her awards also
include the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, the Sojourner Truth
Award from the National Association of Business and Professional Women,
the Outstanding Educator Award from the Black Dupont Employees, the
Mary E. Baltimore Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education
from the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education, Outstanding
Faculty Member Award from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, the Distinguished
Alumni Award from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Outstanding
Educator plaque from the Minority Employees of the Xerox Corporation,
the Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching from
the administration at Lincoln University, the Finer Womanhood Award,
“Women in Education Award,” from the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,
Inc., Beta Delta Zeta Chapter, the Basilius Award for Outstanding
Contributions to Students from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and most
recently her biographical sketch was published in Who’s Who
Among American Teachers and Who’s Who Among Intellectuals. A
Learning Institute at Raising Horizons Charter School in Philadelphia
is named after Dr. Thomas.
A widely sought
after keynote speaker and educational consultant, Dr. Thomas has been
the Commencement speaker for the Pennsylvania State University-Media,
Pennsylvania campus, Gwynedd Mercy College, Edinboro University of
Pennsylvania, the Governor’s School of Business at the University
of Pennsylvania and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania for the
First World Graduation. She regularly serves as a consultant in both
basic and higher education on topics such as: Oral Language Proficiency,
Multicultural Education, Teaching Methodology, Discipline Without
Damage, Curriculum Development, Interpersonal Relations on the Job,
Recruitment Strategies for Minority Students and Faculty, Male/Female
Relationships and the African American Experience, to name a few.
Dr. Thomas also serves as Chair of the Scholarship Committee for the
Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education.
Several of her
most provocative published articles include: “A Case for the
Language Consideration in the Interview Dynamic of the Black Family:
Merits and Demerits,” Pennsylvania Conference on Higher Education
Journal, (Vol. 9, Fall 1991), and “Black Youth in Urban Schools:
Attrition, Performance, Self-Concept,” The State of Black Philadelphia
Journal, (1990). She is one of the four editors of the first edition
of Exploring The African American Experience: A Multidisciplinary
Approach (1996) text in which her chapter is entitled “Language
and Empowerment: A Case for the Language Consideration in the Interview
Dynamic.” Dr. Thomas also serves as Co-editor of the Third Edition,
2007 African-American Text, and Co-editor of the Journal of Social
and Political Thought. Her educational background includes the Bachelor
of Science Degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in English
and Spanish, a Master’s Degree from Duquesne University in Education
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), and a Doctor of Education degree from
West Virginia University (Morgantown, West Virginia) in Speech Education.
She studied Spanish at two Language Institutes, the University of
Puget Sound (Tacoma, Washington) and Kalamazoo College (Kalamazoo,
Michigan). She has also done post-doctoral study at Northwestern University
in Evanston, Illinois on a Lilly Foundation grant.
Dr. Judith A.W. Thomas was a double major at Edinboro University of
Pennsylvania in English and Spanish and is certified by the Pennsylvania
Department of Education to teach English and Spanish. She regularly
addresses English As A Second Language teachers on the methods, techniques
and strategies to use with students and adults whose first language
is other than English.
A recipient
of the Danforth Award for Scholarship and Teaching, a past Scholar-in-Residence
at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, a past member of the Board
of Managers for the Philadelphia Foundation, a past board member of
the Chester County Historical Society, past Chair of the Education
Sub-Committee for the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African-American
Affairs, past President of the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher
Education and the Chester County Education Foundation, Dr. Thomas
is married to Dr. James A. Thomas, a physician. They are the parents
of a daughter who is a graduate of Howard University and the Georgetown
University Law Center and twin sons who are graduates of Hampton University
and North Carolina Central University, respectively.
