Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson is a doctoral candidate in the School of Public Affairs and Administration. Before entering the doctoral program, Michael earned his Master’s in Public Administration with Graduate Certificates in City and County Management and Performance Management at the University of Kansas. Prior to pursuing his Master’s, Michael received his Bachelor’s degrees in economics, philosophy, and political science at Rockhurst University, where he graduate cum laude.

Michael’s researched interests center on examining the relationship between ethical standards, accountability measures, and bureaucratic corruption. In particular, Michael is interested in investigating the precise impact that ethical policies and accountability systems have on discouraging corruption amongst political appointees and civil servants, and what improvements can be made to such systems to further discourage corruption.

Michael is an avid volunteer. As an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor, and recipient of the Founder’s Award, he served for more than a decade in various leadership positions with the Order of the Arrow and the Boy Scouts of America. Furthermore, Michael has served as an AmeriCorp Vista with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City; in this, Michael served as part of the SOAR initiative, an interdepartmental task force dedicated to combating urban blight.