Dr. Aaron Thompson inducted into the Junior Achievement Bluegrass Business Fall of Fame

May 23, 2025

Dr. Aaron Thompson, President of the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), was inducted into the Junior Achievement Bluegrass Business Hall of Fame on May 22 at Keeneland Race Track. Business Hall of Fame laureates are recognized for their career achievements, community service and being a role model for young people.

Thompson grew up in rural Clay County, where his father was an illiterate coal miner and farmer, and his mother ended her formal education in eighth grade. Despite economic hardships, Thompson graduated from high school and enrolled in Eastern Kentucky University, the first in his family to attend college.

Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and political science from EKU and pursued advanced degrees in sociology from the University of Kentucky. After receiving his Ph.D., Thompson returned to EKU as a sociology professor, eventually rising through the administrative ranks to serve as associate vice president for academic affairs.

In 2009, Thompson began his career at CPE, first as senior vice president for academic affairs and then as executive vice president. After a brief stint as Kentucky State University’s interim president, Thompson assumed the presidency of CPE, the first Kentucky native and African American to serve in this role.

“I’m so honored to join the ranks of these distinguished laureates in the Bluegrass Business Hall of Fame,” said Thompson. “It’s especially meaningful to be recognized by Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass, an organization that equips young people to be future business leaders, philanthropists and volunteers in their community.”

In addition to this recognition, Thompson has received the 2024 Exceptional Leader Award from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), the Lucy Harth Smith-Atwood S. Wilson Award for Civil and Human Rights in Education, the Health Care Governance Leadership Award from the Kentucky Hospital Association and a leadership award from the Eastern Kentucky Leadership Foundation. In 2019, he was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame.