Winston C. Thompson (PhD, ’11) has been honored with the Inaugural Shining Light Award from the Association for Moral Education (AME) at its 50th annual conference. This prestigious award celebrates an exceptional mid-career scholar whose distinguished research, impactful contributions to moral and civic education, and active involvement with AME have greatly enriched the field. The award was created to recognize scholars whose work and service mirror the dedication and influence of AME's career award recipients, highlighting outstanding contributions to moral psychology, philosophy, education, and values development.

Thompson holds the William H. and Laceryjette V. Casto Professorship in Interprofessional Education at The Ohio State University where he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Studies and holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Philosophy. He is also the Incoming  Director of OSU's Center for Ethics and Human Values. Thompson’s research explores the ethical and political facets of educational policy and practice, with a focus on fostering critical inquiry and equity across diverse educational contexts.