Rate My Professor Sheryl Thompson

Sheryl S. Thompson is Director Emeritus of the Learning Resource Center (LRC) at California State University, Northridge, a role recognizing her extensive contributions to student academic success since joining the institution in 1988. She served as director of the LRC from 2001 until 2010, overseeing operations during key transitions including the shift to Year-Round Operations in 2007. In this period, Thompson managed the center's budget across three semesters for the first time, ensuring sustained access to tutoring, writing consultations, supplemental instruction, and media lab resources. She highlighted the center's growing demand, with 3,000 tutoring visits from 1,100 students in Fall 2005 alone, and committed to providing consistent support regardless of scheduling changes. Thompson also directed the CSUN PACE program, known as the Program for Adult College Education, which facilitated degree completion for adult learners through flexible Saturday classes and other accommodations. Her administrative support extended to faculty initiatives, including stipends from PACE that funded projects such as the development of the Analyzing English Grammar handbook by a CSUN faculty member.

In addition to her leadership in academic support services, Thompson worked as an English lecturer at CSUN, where she coordinated a pilot online writing project in 1999 that received a $50,000 grant. The initiative targeted incoming freshmen, enabling online-only communications at nontraditional times, which led to increased writing frequency, greater length in compositions, clearer development of personal voices, and enhanced computer literacy skills among participants. Thompson earned her B.A. in 1972 and M.A. in 1987 from California State University, Northridge, along with an M.B.A. in 1980 from Pepperdine University. Her career reflects a dedication to fostering educational access and skill-building for diverse student populations at CSUN.