Dr. D. Gillian Thompson earned a BA in History in 1964 from the University of British Columbia, an MA from Stanford University in 1965, and a PhD from the University of British Columbia in 1972. That same year, Dr. Thompson arrived at the University of New Brunswick as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History. During her 33 years in the Department of History, Dr. Thompson served as Director of Majors (1980-83), Director of Honours (1983-87), and Director of Graduate Studies (1989-92, 1993-95) before becoming Chair of the Department in 1996.
Dr. Thompson's contribution to the University extends far beyond the Department of History. From 1972 to 1980, Dr. Thompson served as Resident fellow for UNB's women's residences. As a member of UNB's Task Force on the Status of Women (created in 1976), Dr. Thompson co-authored the Report on the Status of Women at UNB, published in 1979. She also served as Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women at UNB and Advisor to the President on the Status of Women at UNB (1983-87). In this role, Dr. Thompson campaigned for more women to be appointed to senior administrative positions, for pay equity for female support staff (including secretaries and library assistants), and for financial assistance for part-time students. She was also instrumental in the establishment of UNB's Women's Studies Programme; having taught the first regular course on Women's History offered at UNB in 1981, Dr. Thompson and four of her colleagues created the programme in 1986. Dr. Thompson was actively involved with the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Family Violence Centre and established the Senator Muriel McQueen Fergusson Memorial Prize in History. Dr. Thompson has also served as a member of UNB's Senate and Board of Governors. She retired in 2005 and was granted Professor Emerita status at Convocation on October 19, 2006.
Source(s):
- UA Case 77; Section 2, Box 4.
- UA RG 334; Series 1; File 1; "Correspondence with the UNB President (Gillian Thompson): 1985-1992."
- "Celebrating the origins and teaching of women's history at Atlantic provinces universities: A symposium." Acadiensis, vol. 33, no. 2, Spring 2004, p. 68-104.