Dr. Robert Thompson is an Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies. Dr. Thompson received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He taught at University of Santa Cruz before assuming his present position at Oregon State University.

Trained as a Sociologist, Dr Thompson specializes in African American history, African American Political and Social Though in the Early Twentieth Century, Contemporary African American Social and Political Discourse, Racial Patterns of Urbanization, Black Political Literature, and Black Popular Culture.

Dr. Thompson is co-author of "Learning through listening: applying an action learning model to a cross-cultural field study experience in Native America,"(2004), and is author of "Population," Atlas of the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Thompson serves as co-advisor faculty of the African Students Association, faculty advisor of the Black Cultural Center, among many other university and community services