Fayetteville native Philip Thompson received his B.S. in Botany and M.S. in Horticulture at the U of A prior to pursuing his Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Colorado. During the latter program, Philip accepted appointment to the U.S. Department of State as a career Foreign Service Officer.

Philip and Rebecca Thompson met during their first tour in Seoul, South Korea, in 1994. During his 20+ year career, Philip served at U.S. embassies in East Asia and Latin America, and at the Department of State in Washington, doing political analysis, advancing environmental conservation of the Pacific Ocean, and managing relations between the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Congress, and the Intelligence Community. During her 28-year career, Rebecca promoted educational and cultural exchanges and managed relations with international news media in various capacities at U.S. Embassies in East Asia, Latin America, and at the State Department in Washington. Philip is happy to be back in his beloved hometown where he enjoys horticulture, business management, and civic activities, and Rebecca feels blessed to have retired to the hometown of Senator Fulbright, who started the Public Diplomacy programs that became her passion during her career.