Jamel Wright
Jamel Wright | |
---|---|
27th President of Eureka College | |
Assumed office July 1, 2017 Interim: July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 | |
Preceded by | J. David Arnold |
Personal details | |
Children | 2 |
Education | Missouri Western State University University of Kansas |
Jamel Santa Cruze Wright is an American academic administrator serving as the 27th president of Eureka College since 2017.
Life
[edit]Wright is the youngest of five children.[1] She is from St. Louis.[2] Her parents owned a janitorial services company and her mother, Shirley Santa Cruze, was a teacher.[1] Wright earned a B.A. in communication studies from Missouri Western State University.[2] She was a first-generation college student.[3] She completed a M.S. and Ph.D. (2004) in communication studies at the University of Kansas.[2][1]
Wright served as the coordinator of the America Reads Program at Missouri Western, president of the St. Joseph Area Literacy Coalition, and a teacher with the Freedom School initiative of the Children's Defense Fund.[3][1] While completing her doctoral studies, she was the communication specialist to J. David Arnold, then vice president for academic and student affairs at Missouri Western.[1] Following graduation, Wright worked as an assistant professor of communication at Boston College.[1] She later served as a professor at Saint Louis University.[1] Wright joined Eureka College in 2014 as the special assistant to president Arnold.[3] She was later promoted to vice president of strategic and diversity initiatives.[3] She served as the interim president from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017.[3] Wright became its 27th president on July 1, 2017.[3] She is the first woman and African American to serve in the role.[3] She received a 2024 Joseph R. Biden Achievement Award.[4]
Wright is married and has a daughter and stepson.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Lynn, Greg (2018-11-28). "Dr. Jamel Santa Cruze Wright". Peoria Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ a b c d "President". Eureka College. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Dr. Jamel Wright". www.reaganfoundation.org. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Danesh, Shabnam (June 29, 2024). "Eureka College president receives Biden Lifetime Achievement Award". WMBD-TV. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- Living people
- Missouri Western State University alumni
- Missouri Western State University faculty
- Boston College faculty
- Saint Louis University faculty
- Eureka College faculty
- Communication scholars
- 21st-century American women academics
- 21st-century American academics
- 21st-century African-American women
- African-American women academic administrators
- Women heads of universities and colleges
- Heads of universities and colleges in the United States
- 21st-century African-American academics
- University of Kansas alumni