“I have known Mike personally and professionally for over 10 years. Mike served for the Board of Directors for the organization I lead. We hired him as a diversity speaker and event leader multiple times for state-wide gatherings and for our state youth convention. He is an extremely gifted communicator, is insightful and passionate, and works extremely well with event planners. Mike is able to relate to all ages. I recommend him without any reservation whatsoever.”

Mike served with distinction as the Director of our Cultural Resource Center, and in his last year here, also as our Chief Diversity Officer. He performed admirably in all the roles listed above, except he wasn't a Board/Council member (if analogous to a Trustee). I've known Mike professionally for seven years, since March 2015, when I became president of AU.

I would highly recommend him!

Working with Mike Thigpen on matters of diversity, intercultural awareness, and building a caring community has been a joy. He is an enthusiastic and energetic champion of diversity with a keen ability to put people at ease while still tackling sensitive and difficult topics. Mike cares deeply about social justice and is consistently willing to share his many competencies in service to cultivating community.

Mike is a knowledgeable and engaging trainer! I would highly recommend him to you if your organization is seeking ways to become more aware and to develop the next steps both corporately and for your individual employees. You will tackle tough topics with illustrations, conversation, laughter, and action plans!

Mike was asked to be our event speaker for the WPA State Camp Meeting. I have known Mike professionally for several years and he always delivers challenging, event-appropriate, passionate, material. He genuinely cares about the people and puts everything he can into his presentations. Our people loved him and would enjoy inviting him back year after year.

“Mike came to Southern Wesleyan University as a Chapel speaker and also hosted a couple of impactful workshops for our students. Mike is a gifted communicator both in terms of his preaching/teaching as well as his disarming approach to engage in some heavy topics regarding race. Mike is a "Must Have" speaker if you are looking for someone to help you walk through sensitive racial topics.”

“Mike was the director of the Cultural Resource Center at Anderson University for the majority of my time there and he created a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.”

“I have known Mike personally and professionally for almost 20 years. Mike is a person of great integrity, tremendous sensitivity, and devotion to Jesus Christ. His heart for people and for Jesus combined with his personality makes him a gifted communicator. His work in the arena of racial reconciliation is particularly powerful and helpful to people of all races.