He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Rural Students and is a Class Director for the Midwest Community Development Institute. Thom served in the Peace Corps from 1991-1995 and performed grassroots community development work in the Eastern High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. From 1997-1999, he worked as the Center Director for the United Seamen’s Service in Casablanca, Morocco. In 2000, Thom cofounded the High Atlas Foundation (an international community development organization) and is currently a member of the advisory board. From 1999-2005, Thom managed the Peace Corps Fellows Program (an internship program for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) located at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA).