Behavioral and Social Sciences Distinguished Alumni

2000 Distinguished Alumni

Mike Thompson

BA Public Administration, Class of 1982
MA Public Administration, Class of 1996

Honor Year: 2000

Mike Thompson is a freshman again -- Not a freshman in college, but a freshman in Congress. Thompson, elected to California's 1st District in 1998, is set on working his way up the ranks in Congress, and he currently serves on the House Agriculture and Armed Forces Committees. Thompson graduated from CSU, Chico with a B.A. in public administration and economics in 1982 and received his master's of public administration, also from Chico State, in 1996. Thompson was born and raised in California's wine country and has owned a small vineyard himself. Before his successful run for Congress, Thompson served as a legislative staffer and was a state senator for eight years. At 17, Thompson joined the U.S. Army where he served for three years, including a tour in Vietnam. Since entering the political arena, Thompson has received numerous awards and honors, including Freshman Legislator of the Year from the California School Boards Association, and the 1995 Distinguished Service Award from the AIDS Project Los Angeles.