Alumna Karen Thompson has been named the new president of the Junior League of Tuscaloosa and is the first black person to hold the position in the group’s 89-year history. Thompson, executive director of Temporary Emergency Services Inc., has been a member of the group for the last eight years.
The League is part of a national organization of women who work in their respective communities through volunteering.
“Each member has a skill set, a passion and an inspiration for our community,” Thompson said. “My vision is that it will continue with the growth of our community.”
Thompson has led Temporary Emergency Services for 27 years. TES is a nonprofit group that helps families in emergency situations. In addition to her work with TES, Thompson is also an adjunct faculty member at the School of Social Work at the University of Alabama. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from UA.