 She was elected as the 38th master of St. Catharine's College in 2007, making her the first female master since the college was founded in 1473.Elected by the president and fellows of the college, she remained master until 2016, when she was succeeded by Professor Sir Mark Welland.A scholarship fund called the Jean Thomas Ph.D. Award was created in her honor by alumnus of St. Catharine's Peter Dawson.