Courtney E. Thompson

Courtney E. Thompson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Mississippi State University, where she has served since 2016. As chair of the Medical Humanities Certificate Program, she collaborates with faculty from the Department of Philosophy and Religion and the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures to develop interdisciplinary curricula that enhance students' professionalism, empathy, and communication skills for healthcare careers.

• Joined MSU faculty in 2016
• Chair of Medical Humanities Certificate Program
• Collaborates with Barton Moffatt (Philosophy/Religion) and Molly Zuckerman (Anthropology)

Thompson's research focuses on the intersections of science, medicine, and culture in 19th-century America. Her work uncovers marginalized narratives in medical history, particularly examining phrenology's influence on law and society, and analyzing emotional dynamics in doctor-patient relationships during post-Reconstruction America.

Her recent publications include the book An Organ of Murder: Crime, Violence, and Phrenology in Nineteenth-Century America (Rutgers University Press), which traces phrenology's impact on American cultural and legal frameworks. Thompson is currently working on a second book project using the Andrew Bowles Holder archives to explore medical relationships in the post-Reconstruction South and Western reservation contexts.

Thompson emphasizes student engagement, drawing inspiration from her mentors at Harvard and Yale to foster classroom environments where students discover historical relevance in contemporary issues. She values informal academic interactions and interdisciplinary collaborations that arise from campus life.