Terri Wright, CEAS Assistant Dean for Access, Inclusion and Student Programs
Terri’s passion for erasing systemic racism and discrimination by ensuring students who come from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds have opportunities to pursue, and be successful, in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions is the reason why she joined the staff as assistant dean for access, inclusion and student programs in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. This role affords her with great fulfillment from helping students to achieve their educational goals and gain access to co-curricular and professional opportunities that they might not otherwise have. Terri earned a BA degree in chemistry from Hampton University and doctorate in Organometallic Chemistry from the University of South Carolina and has 19 years of teaching, research and program management experience in higher education. She oversees a diverse portfolio, which includes Enrollment Management, the BOLD Center, Student Professional Development Programs, Community College STEM Initiatives and Inclusive Culture. This is an ideal role for Terri to establish a footprint in broadening participation in engineering at an R1 institution. She is helping to foster cultural change within the college and implementing creative strategies to increase recruitment, retention and graduation of students from BIPOC, first generation and low-income backgrounds. With the recent campus-wide mandate on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), Terri works to build strong partnerships with stakeholders within the college and across the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä campus to advance and amplify EDI goals and results.
Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why? France is the best place I’ve traveled. The great food, art, history and beautiful architecture and gardens (e.g. Palace of Versailles, the Louvre, and Arc de Triomphe, etc.) are unmatched.
What’s something most people don’t know about you? I enjoy singing in the church choir. (I’m a soprano)
If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor?Dr. Ruth Simmons former President of Brown University and former head of Smith College
Your coworkers can always count on you to . . .Listen, be supportive and give practical recommendations
What is your guilty pleasure? Red Velvet cupcakes
Which TV show do you never miss? Meet the Press
Who was the most famous person you met and where? I met the now famous and history making Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris at a rally in Columbia, SC in 2019
What is the best advice you have ever been given? Be humble and thankful for what you have. (Count your blessings!)
