Dr. Lann E. Thompson Biography
- 2013 retired as the Associate Director of the Riley Child Development Center at Riley Hospital for Children on the campus of Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN.
- 32 years experience (1981-2013) as a clinical and associate faculty member with Indiana University Schools of Medicine and Social Work teaching courses on death, dying, grief and loss. Also served as a social work field instructor and a clinician at the Riley Child Development Center serving children with disabilities and their families.
- Earned a Master of Science in Social Work at the University of Wisconsin (1973-1975) and was an interdisciplinary Leadership Education in Neurodeveopmental Disorders (LEND) trainee at the University of Wisconsin Waisman Center on Human Development.
- Earned a MA in counseling psychology (1973) and an EdD doctorate in counseling psychology (1983) from the University of South Dakota where he was Acting Director of the Center for Developmental Disabilities.
- Served a term as Vice President for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) South Dakota Chapter, and has served as both Vice President and President (1990-93) for the Indiana NASW Chapter.
- Elected as an Indiana representative six times for the NASW Delegate Assembly (1990–2005), and in 1999 was elected chairperson for the NASW Midwest Coalition. In 2011 he was the Chair of the National NASW Delegate Assembly Planning Task Force.
- Elected to the American Indian Center of Indiana Board of Directors in 1999 to present. Has Cherokee heritage (Indian name is Tatanka Wamniyomni-Whirlwind Buffalo) and began his career working on the Sioux Indian Reservations in South Dakota. His Indian name is
- Served on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Telehealth Advisory Consortium and 1987-2013 About Special Kids (formerly the Indiana Parent Information Network and is Past President of that Board), one of the four original founders of that organization in 1987.
- The 2017 recipient of the About Special Kids Founders Award. In 1992, he was awarded the Social Worker of the Year Award for Indiana.
- In 2006 elected to the National Board of Directors of NASW as the Region VII representative for IN, OH, KY, TN and WV. chaired the National NASW Personnel Committee. Also served on the NASW National Committee for Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
- In 2007 elected to the National Board of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and was Chairperson for the Council on Interdisciplinary Services.
- A member of AAUAP/AUCD, since 1975 served on the National Training Directors Council and the National Community Education Directors Council. Served on the Program Planning, Council Chairs and Award Review Committees for the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Board. Also was Co- Chair of the AUCD Communications Committee and served on the 2008 Poster Review Committee.
- Served as a grant reviewer for MCH –LEND grants, as the chair of the review panel and as Chair of a HRSA Small Provider Health Grants Review Panel. From 2008-2009 was on the U.S. Health and Human Services, Office on Disability and Department of Labor Office on Disability Employment Policy, Health Providers Health Care Curriculum Select Panel.