Austin College’s 2020 Todd A. Williams Executive-in-Residence Lecture will be presented via Zoom on October 16 at Noon by Melissa Thompson ’84, senior vice president for talent acquisition at the Nielsen Company in Dallas.
Austin College President Steven P. O’Day will join Thompson for a “fireside chat” on “Moments that Matter: A Career Conversation,” in which the guest speaker will discuss “highlights and lowlights” of her career.
Thompson will share insights gained during her 25-year career in global human resources and talent acquisition, including leadership positions at McGraw-Hill Education, Citrix, and Dell, and as CEO of Thompson Talent Innovations.
After graduating from Austin College in 1984 with a major in business, Thompson earned a master’s degree in human resources from the Red McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas. She serves on the board of Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals.
The alumna will also interact with students in leadership, marketing, and management classes during her visit to the campus.
This lecture is made possible through gifts from Todd A. Williams ’82.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and more than 100 expert faculty members allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.