Professor Dr. Heather Thompson

Biography

Heather Ann Thompson is a prominent historian and the Frank W. Thompson Collegiate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Michigan. She is well-known for her work on the carceral state, policing, and social movement activism. Her critically acclaimed book, "Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy," received numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the Bancroft Prize. Thompson's research focuses on the intersection of race, politics, and power in historical contexts, particularly in relation to mass incarceration and criminal justice in America. She has published several influential articles and has been a public intellectual contributing to major publications such as The Atlantic, TIME, and the New Yorker. Thompson co-founded the Carceral State Project at the University of Michigan and has served on various advisory boards for organizations focused on law and justice reforms. She is a sought-after speaker and has appeared on numerous national television programs to discuss her research and its implications for contemporary society.

Research Interests