Alongside her university work, she serves as an Executive Consultant for the Malaika Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting global education for Nebraska teachers and students. Both roles inspire her to conduct research on effective teacher induction and meaningful educational reform, and this fall, Thomas will present creativity research at an international educational reform conference in Beijing. In addition to her teaching and research, spending time with her husband, Jay, teenage children, Samantha and Jack (as well as her golden doodle, Charlie, a third canine child), offers her unlimited learning and joy.