Thomas L.Windham, PhD, psychologist - educator: Senior Advisor, Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder. Previous positions include: Senior Advisor to the Director, National Science Foundation; SOARS Inaugural Director and Principal Investigator; Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) Director for Pupil Services; and Executive Director, Park East Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center, Denver. Classroom teaching career includes faculty positions at Nebraska Wesleyan University (Psychology); University of Colorado, Boulder (Black Studies); Metropolitan State University of Denver, (Psychology, Black Studies); Denver University (Education); and Boulder Naropa University (Environmental Studies).
Thomas is a graduate of New York City’s High School of Music and Art (now Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts); New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) BA, Psychology and Music; NMHU, MS, Psychology; University of Colorado, Boulder, PhD, Psychology; University of Colorado, Denver, Specialist in Education.
Thomas was elected to BVSD’s Board of Education and served as its President. He now co-chairs CU Boulder Colorado’s World Affairs Conference Theme Committee on Racism in the USA. He is a member of CU Boulder’s School of Education Dean’s Development Advisory Board where he co-created and spearheads the Charles and Mildred Nilon Endowed Teacher Education Scholarship. He is a member of The Boulder Dairy Arts Center Selection Committee for the Boedecker Path to Excellence Arts Grants Program, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Boulder County where he serves on the Executive Committee and co-chairs the Task Force on Post Secondary Education.
Windham was recognized by the Executive Office of the President, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and by Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, TX, for his outstanding achievements in mentoring students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and for his determination to promote parity in the USA STEM workforce. He is the recipient of the Boulder County Multicultural Award for Science; Boulder Daily Camera Pacesetter Award for Science, Medicine and Health; American Meteorological Society (AMS) Charles E. Anderson Award; National Sponsored Programs Administrators Alliance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Champion Award; NAACP Boulder County Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee Lifetime Achievement Award; AMS Robert H. and Joanne Simpson Mentorship Award. During his tenure as Inaugural Director, the SOARS program was awarded The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring.