Mr. Thomas is currently Dean, University College at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. He has been responsible for the Act 101 Educational Opportunity Program, Advising Services, Career Services, Disability Support Services, Transfer Student Services, Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction, and the TRIO Upward Bound Program. University College also administers the First Year Bridge Program (for conditional-admit students) and the Undeclared Majors Program. In 2000, he designed and implemented the First Year Bridge Program that has grown from 75 to 175 students. From 2004 to 2009, he administered the Federal Title III grant that created the Advising Services component in collaboration with NACADA. These efforts included a revised registration process for first year students and the development of the Electronic Early Alert System. In those same years, he supervised the creation of an Intensive English Language Program (IEP) that achieved national accreditation in three years.
Previously, Mr. Thomas served as Director of the Learning Center/Act 101 and worked 18 years as counselor, assistant director and director of the TRIO Upward Bound Program. In addition to his administrative positions, he serves as adjunct faculty in the history department and also teaches Intelligence Applied, the course he designed for students in educational opportunity and developmental programs. He is also the past president of the Act 101 Pennsylvania Association for Educational Opportunity. At Wilkes, he has been the recipient of the Inspirational Teacher Award and the Innovative Teaching Award. He was also recognized for Outstanding Support to Developmental Education by the Pennsylvania Association for Developmental Educators; and was recognized for Excellence and Distinguished Service by the Tri-State Consortium for Educational Opportunity.
He has served as keynote speaker at the following conferences: Student Success Institute (2019) sponsored by Penn State University: “Universal Design for Student Success: Bridging the Gaps in the Higher Education Environment”; *PA Association of Developmental Educators Regional Conference (2011): “Developmental Education: Gateway to Opportunity”; and the *PA Association of Educational Opportunity Programs Conference (TRIO-2009): “Equality of Opportunity: Returning to a Consensus”
Areas of expertise:Higher Achievement through goal-setting and decision-making, Effective Career Decision-making, Pennsylvania: The State of Educational Opportunity, Intelligence Applied: A Non-remedial Course for Students in Developmental Programs, Minor Steps to Making Major Decisions, Advising and Academic Support: A Model of Collaboration to Support Student Success, Developmental Education: Gateway to Opportunity, Equality of Opportunity: Returning to a Consensus, Our Highest Risk Students: Beyond Remediation, Creating and Administering Exemplary Advising Programs, Creating and Administering Exemplary Opportunity Programs, and Academic Advising: Creating a Foundation for Student Success and Retention.