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Dr. Sandra Thompson
Sandra Thompson

1890 Statewide Community Economic Development Program LeaderMatthews Extension Center803-536-8696

Sandra Thompson

Through her role within SC State University's 1890 Research & Extension program, Dr. Thompson has been entrusted with the crucial task of revitalizing the community and economic development program. Her primary objective is to promote economic vitality through small-business development and expand entrepreneurial collaborations in agriculture and non-agricultural sectors in South Carolina.

Education

  • Ed.D., Interdisciplinary Leadership in Education, (2017) Creighton University
  • Ed.S. & M.Ed., Agency Mental Health Counseling, (1986) University of Florida
  • B.S., Marketing, (1982) Florida A&M University

Background

Dr. Thompson has over 36 years of leadership, instruction and program development experience. The last 18 years she served as the Community Resource Development Specialist at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. Much of Thompson’s responsibilities involve community education and planning, as well as leadership and organizational development. Specifically, Dr. Thompson has managed over $2.9 million in grant awards addressing community, economic, agriculture and youth development. While in Florida, Thompson spearheaded two hallmark programs: Florida Family Heir’s Property Community of Practice Initiative (FFHPI), a leadership and policy development program to bring about equitable resolution of collective property ownership; and Florida Natural Resource-Based Capacity Building Initiative (FNRCBI), a leadership policy development program to build and sustain community and economic viability in small towns, cities and villages. switch this so it could be written as a background for Dr.Thompson

Research Interests

  • Community & Economic Development
  • Heirs' Property

Publications

  • The Impact of Extension Gardening Programs on Healthy Attitudes and Behaviors  Erica Odera A. J. Lamm, C. Owens University of Florida, S. Thompson L. Carter Journal of Human Sciences and Extension Volume 1, Number 2, 2013.