Jane Scimeca is a distinguished Professor of History at Brookdale Community College. She specializes in World and Women’s History. She is also the recipient of the Barringer Award, Brookdale’s top teaching award. Her current project is working on a biography on Geraldine L. Thompson.

How may times had you driven past Thompson Park or Thompson Middle School or Geraldine L. Thompson Care Center and wondered about the person behind the name? Professor Scimeca will describe the life of Mrs. Thompson, with special focus on her research journey as she unearthed Mrs. Thompson’s story in libraries, archives and the basements of Thompson’s decendants. She was a humanitarian and institutional reformer who founded social service organizations that addressed health, prison reform, mental health reform, child welfare, nursing and much more. Please join us at the Strauss Mansion Museum to learn more about this interesting woman.