Vinton Thompson

Vinton Thompson is a research scientist at the American Museum of Natural History, where he pursues on-going interests in the ecology, evolution and systematics of the Cercopoidea, or spittlebugs, an insect group that includes important pests of sugarcane and tropical pasture grasses, as well as vectors of the bacterial plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa.

He is also a veteran higher education professional and administrator with experience in independent and public urban-oriented institutions of higher education. He has long practical involvement with institutions serving adult non-traditional students. In his most recent position he guided Metropolitan College of New York through the acquisition and development of new campuses in Manhattan and the Bronx. He has on-going interests in engaging strategically vulnerable institutions in constructive planning for long term success through institutional collaborations and alliances.