Dr. Gerald O. Thompkins, involved with the WSU baseball program for over nine years, is in his fifth season as the Warriors' academic consultant and assistant recruiting coordinator.

Dr. Thompkins was born in New York City, but grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Physics and Administration from Indiana University, and his Ph.D. in College and University Administration from Michigan State University.

Currently, he is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Wayne State University College of Engineering. In his current assignment at Wayne State, Dr. Thompkins is responsible for enrollment and retention management programs, admissions and scholarships, corporate and business development issues, summer internships and cooperative education programs, curriculum development, international student exchange programs, and also serves as the College of Engineering's judicial officer. Dr. Thompkins teaches Introduction to Engineering to first-year engineering students. The College of Engineering has several pre-college programs for area middle and high school students, Dr. Thompkins is responsible for directing these initiatives. Dr. Thompkins also serves as faculty advisor to a number of student organizations within the College of Engineering. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Dean at Wayne State, Dr. Thompkins was Director of Engineering Programs at Michigan State University.

Dr. Thompkins has been a member of the United States Naval Reserve since 1986. His naval career has included a variety of Naval Reserve assignments. Commander Thompkins was initially assigned to an intelligence billet and subsequently as a training officer for an Anti-Submarine Warfare Operations Center unit. He has also served as a Commanding Officer for the Navy's Law Enforcement and Physical Security Unit in Selfridge, Michigan. Commander Thompkins recently completed a two-year tour of duty with the United States Forces Japan Unit and is also the Campus Liaison Officer for the Navy Recruiting District of Michigan. He has served on active duty in Keflavik, Iceland, Yokota, Japan, and throughout the United States.

Commander Thompkins' awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, and various unit and service ribbons. Commander Thompkins has also received a number of community service and teaching awards from Wayne State University and Michigan State University.

Dr. Thompkins is a former member of the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit, and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP). He is a member of Tau Alpha Pi Engineering Honor Society, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Nu Chapter.