As parents of a Fairfield student, John Thompson III and Monica Moore Thompson, P’23 were attracted to Fairfield’s mission of cura personalis, educating and understanding the student as a complete person. “We believe learning does not take place only in the classrooms, but also on athletic fields, on performing arts stages, in science labs, and in the dorms,” Monica shared. “Fairfield offers a supportive environment for young people to learn and develop.”
We encourage Fairfield parents to jump in and find a way to connect to the University. Reply ‘yes’ to those invitations. The options and the levels of involvement are limitless, so don’t hesitate.
— John Thompson III and Monica Moore Thompson, P’23
Their son, John Thompson ’23, set his sights on becoming a Stag while staying in Fairfield’s Gonzaga Hall — which coincidentally shares its name with the high school he was attending at the time — during a summer rugby camp in 2018. “I grew up in Washington, D.C., and our son attended my alma mater there, Gonzaga College High School,” John III explained. “John felt immediately comfortable when he visited Fairfield’s campus as a prospective student, and he appreciated the kindness and support of the community.”
Meeting and listening to Fairfield President Mark R. Nemec, PhD further motivated the Thompsons’ endorsement of their son’s college choice. “Pre-pandemic, we had the op- portunity to visit the University and speak with Dr. Nemec, and hear about his vision of the future for the institution,” said John III. “That really solidified our support for John attending Fairfield and our support for the University as a whole.”
The Thompsons were also very impressed with Fairfield’s leadership in handling the challenges presented by the pandemic. Prior to Covid-19, Monica and John III enjoyed attending Fairfield events, including watching their son during rugby games. While the pandemic halted their visits to campus, they still maintained a strong connection to the University. “Despite the difficulties presented by Covid-19, Fairfield was able to make appropriate adjustments to accommodate students on campus, and offer great programs to keep parents involved,” said Monica.
It is because of these positive experiences at Fairfield that the Thompsons remain engaged Fairfield parents, which includes co-chairing the Parents Leadership Council. “There are many ways to get involved with Fairfield while also allowing your child the space to feel that the campus is their own,” Monica said. “We encourage Fairfield parents to jump in and find a way to connect to the University. Reply ‘yes’ to those invitations. The options and the levels of involvement are limitless, so don’t hesitate.”
A family of five residing in McLean, Virginia, John III and Monica raised three children including John, a computer science major at Fairfield’s School of Engineering and a member of Fairfield Rugby; their oldest, Morgan, who will be moving to Los Angeles to work in finance; and their youngest, Matthew, who will be attending Harvard next year. During their free time, the family likes to travel, cook, and escape to Martha’s Vineyard.
John Thompson III is the vice president of player development & engagement for the Washington Wizards NBA team and Monumental Sports. Prior to his current job, he was Georgetown University’s head basketball coach for 13 years. He also coached at Princeton University for a total of 13 years and was their head coach for four years.
Monica Moore Thompson worked in the Development Office of her alma mater, Princeton University, before retiring to raise the family. She currently devotes her time to non-profit board service in the areas of education and healthcare, at organizations such as Teach for America, the Washington Jesuit Academy, and as the vice chair of the Alumni Council at Princeton.
