As of 2024, Dr. Katrina Rivers Thompson has worked in the Child and Family Studies department for 38 years. Her contributions include time spent as the Faculty Director of Berea College’s Child Development Lab (2007-2017), Internship Program Director (1995-2011), and Program Director for the Shepherd Alliance on Poverty internship program which she helped found (2017-present). Currently she serves as the Faculty Director of the Harrison-McLain Home Management House which hosts practicum experience for capstone classes as well as acts as a dorm for some CFS majors. She has also served as Department Chair of the Child and Family Studies department for a decade between the years 2007 and 2017, as well as since 2021. She also has served as the advisor for the Nu Alpha Chapter of the Kappa Omicron Nu National Honor Society since 1991 and the Officer at Large for the Berea Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi (2012-2018).
Along with her many accomplishments and service roles, Dr. KRT has spent decades teaching her students to be prepared for life after Berea College. The information and experiences she provides speaks to many walks of life, including those who want to go to further schooling, jump directly into the working world, or simply want to have more knowledge to care for their own children. Covering topics such as resource management, humans and their environments, family law & policy, Dr. KRT situates her teaching in both the historical and contemporary society. As the family studies concentration advisor, she provides mentorship and leadership which displays her strong desire for her students to be successful. It is impossible to miss Dr. KRT in the CFS department, not only because she keeps so many trains on their tracks, but because of the fact that she truly cares about everything that has to do with the Emery building.
(Bio written by student staff of the CFS department).