EKU to honor Dr. Aaron Thompson with honorary degree

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) will recognize Dr. Aaron Thompson for his distinguished service to humanity with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) degree during EKU’s fall commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at 1:30 p.m.

Dr. Aaron Thompson, ’78, president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), is a nationally recognized leader in higher education, working to ensure that all Kentuckians have an equal opportunity to improve their lives through postsecondary education. He was named to the position in 2018 after serving CPE as senior vice president for academic affairs for four years and executive vice president for five years. Thompson, a native of Eastern Kentucky, is a first-generation high school and college graduate. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology at EKU, and went on to teach as a professor for 21 years at his alma mater. Additionally, Thompson holds a master’s and doctorate in sociology from the University of Kentucky.