Dr. LeMia Jenkins Thompson is a passionate communications professional and strategist. She has a vast history of public relations, political and strategic communication, operations, government relations, and corporate development experience.
Thompson currently serves as the Global Head of Communications for Pinterest, setting the communications vision for relevant and timely stories about how more than 400 million Pinners around the world use Pinterest. Prior to joining Pinterest, Thompson served as Director of Global Communications and Media Relations for Walmart. In this role, she served as the national spokesperson for Walmart’s corporate communications team. Overseeing the day-to-day operations of Walmart media relations and the Press Office. Her team was responsible for crisis management, triaging incoming media inquiries, supporting operators, and managing rapid response communications for all United States stores. In addition, she served as a strategic partner to legal, public affairs, government relations, operations, marketing, merchandising, emergency operations, the Walmart Foundation, and global security and investigations.
Thompson served as Director of External Affairs for Caesars Entertainment. During her tenure with Caesars, Thompson directed the strategic focus of the External Affairs portfolio for Caesars Entertainment including Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility communications and strategy. She served as director of the company’s political action committee and participated in an executive development where she learned business and casino operations from the ground up.
Thompson has a passion for and a rich history of advancing priorities and initiatives that elevate a strategic focus. Before working with Caesars Entertainment, she served as Communications Director for the Hillary for America campaign. In this capacity, she managed the regional public affairs operation consisting of digital planning, social and traditional media strategy, budget, public relations, political operations, speech writing, coalition building, and GOTV. Preceding her work with Hillary for America, Thompson returned home to serve as the first Director of Federal Relations for Jackson State University. In this role, she developed, coordinated, and implemented a comprehensive strategic plan for strengthening the university’s identity and reputation in scientific and scholarly research and corporate development, resulting in over twenty million dollars for the institution.
Thompson has served numerous members of the United States House of Representatives, helping to tactically assist in significantly raising the political profile of each member. Additionally, Thompson worked tirelessly to aid in passing legislation in the key areas of healthcare, social security, education, homeland security, and economic development.
Thompson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Tougaloo College and earned a Master of Public Health (Marketing and Health Communications) from The George Washington University. She has studied Healthcare at the Hebrew University in Israel and Doctorate in Education from the University of Mississippi. Thompson is also a former adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas.
