Background
Thompson, Robert Lee was born on April 25, 1945 in Canton, New York, United States. Son of Robert M. and Esther Louise (Weatherup) Thompson.
Nonprofit executive Agricultural economist
Thompson, Robert Lee was born on April 25, 1945 in Canton, New York, United States. Son of Robert M. and Esther Louise (Weatherup) Thompson.
Bachelor of Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1967. Master of Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 1969. Doctor of Philosophy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 1974.
Doctor of Laws, Dalhousie University, 1999. Doctor of Science honoris causa, Pennsylvania State University, 1999.
Volunteer agriculturalist International Volunteer Service, Pakse and Vientiane, Laos, 1968-1970. Visiting professor Federal University Vicosa, Brazil, 1972-1973. Professor Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 1974-1993, dean of agriculture, 1987-1993.
Research scholar International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria, 1983. Senior staff economist Council Economic Advisers, Washington, 1983-1985. Assistant secretary economics United States Department Agriculture, 1985-1987.
President, Chief Executive Officer Winrock International Institute Agricultural Development, 1993-1998. Senior advisor World Bank, Washington, 1998-1999, director rural development, 1999—2002. Senior advisor Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1998—1999, senior fellow Washington, 2003—2007.
Gardner endowed chair agriculture policy University Illinois, Urbana, 2004—2010, emeritus professor, since 2010. Senior fellow Chicago Council Global Affairs, since 2010. Visiting professor Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1979-1980.
Chairman advisory council National Center Food and Agricultural Policy, Washington, 1987-1992. Member Indiana Commission on Agriculture and Rural Development, 1989-1993, National Commission on Agricultural Trade and Export Policy, 1985-1986, National Commission International Trade, Development, and Cooperation, 1996-1997. Member board agriculture National Research Council, 1987-1992.
Member International Policy Council on Agriculture and Trade, since 1987, chairman, 2000-2006. Member United States Department of Agriculture Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences, 1994-1996. Board director Land O'Lakes, since 2006, National Cooperative Bank, 1985-1997, Parenting Stress Index Energy & Parenting Stress Index Resources, 1987-1994, Vigoro Corporation, 1993-1996, Terra Industries, 1997-1998.
Advisory board member Rabobank N. American Agribusiness, 1998-2003. Member agricultural policy advisory council trade, United States Department of Agriculture and United States Trade Republican, since 2005.
Board directors Indiana 4-H Foundation, Indiana Institute Agriculture Food and Nutrition, 1987-1993, Institute for Science in Society, 1991-1993, United States Department of Agriculture Graduate School, Washington, 1985-1987. Member national advisory council Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Science. Board directors Farm Foundation, 1987-1992, chairman 1991-1992.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Agricultural Economics Association (editorial council 1983-1985, 2005-2007, quality committee award 1979, 91, 93). Member International Agribus Management Association, American Economic Association, International Association Agricultural Economists (president 1993-1996), Council Foreign Relations, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Bretton Woods Committee, Royal Swedish Academy Agriculture and Forestry (foreign), Ukrainian Academy Agricultural Sciences, Sigma Xi, Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Zeta (Centennial Honor Role award 1997), Gamma Sigma Delta.
Married Karen Hansen, August 9, 1968. Children— Kristina Marie, Eric Robert.