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.
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]