About Our CEO

Larissa Redmond Thompson

Larissa Redmond Thompson is the Founder/Executive Director of the Collegiate Life Investment Foundation (CLIF). The mission of CLIF is to serve as the premier vehicle to inform drivers across the state of Tennessee about the dangers of distracted driving, and to educate college-aged students and those matriculated into college, preventative ways to avoid its negligence.  She is a proud graduate of Christian Brothers University, where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature. Thompson graduated from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2015 with a Juris Doctorate; as well as completed her studies at Capella University with a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on Non-Profit Leadership.

She regularly travels statewide to deliver speeches and seminars about the dangers of distracted driving, and serves as a Traffic Educator Consultant for the City of Collierville (Tenn). Her work was recently recognized by Tennessee Department of Transportation and Homeland Security, and Governors Highway Safety Office, when she was selected to be a recipient of the Directors Award at the 2016 statewide safety conference.  Over the years, Larissa has been highlighted by several prominent companies including serving as a guest blogger for UHAUL’s Moving Insider Blog, she was named an Advocate for Change by AT&T, and was the selected speaker for the 2015 Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office “Thumbs Down to Texting While Driving” Campaign. Recently, Larissa was chosen as a 2017 Top 20 under 30 recipient for the Memphis Flyer magazine, in Memphis, Tennessee for her efforts throughout the Mid-South.  She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Junior League of Memphis, and a host of other professional organizations across the country.

Thompson continues to educate high school and college students across the state of Tennessee on the dangers of distracted driving through the organization’s C.A.R.E.S. Program, which serves as a peer-to-peer awareness and educational program for teen driver safety.  Additionally, CLIF provides car crash victims across the state of Tennessee with financial, physical, and psychological assistance through their Victims Assistance Network (V.A.N.). Larissa is married to Mr. James C. Thompson and the proud mother of one daughter, Shelby.