Robert Wright

Dr. Robert Wright Biographical Sketch

Dr. Robert Wright has over 25-years of experience in increasingly more responsible positions to envision, develop, and implement innovative programs/policies/grant acquisition strategies impacting public and private sectors, to organize people and events, and to communicate positive ideas and images intended to improve organizational productivity and support innovative decision-making. Dr. Wright has held senior management positions in the areas of public safety, emergency management, workforce development and health care policy. These positions included Senior Policy Analyst, MassHealth, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Senior Program Manager, Executive Office of Public Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Program Coordinator, Southern New Hampshire Services.

Dr. Wright received his BA from the University of Chicago, an MPA from Suffolk University, Boston, MA, and a Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of LaVerne, LaVerne, CA. His research has focused upon the implementation of major federal programs. Dr. Wright's publication pertaining to inter-agency collaboration and program implementation focused upon the Child Welfare realm: Marino, K. & Wright, R, Toward the theory of administrative tethering: Re-thinking child welfare training amid rationally bounded administrative decision-making and collaborative governance processes, 2008, Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. Dr. Wright served as an Editorial Review Board Member, Journal of Emergency Management. He has also published articles pertaining to program evaluation and emergency management. These publications include "Key Performance Measure Considerations in Implementation & Policy Design: Assessing the Workforce Investment Act Program" International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, 9(7), pp.89-110 and "The Department of Homeland Security and the Entrepreneurial Management and Public Policy Model: A Work in Process (book chapter)," Wendy Haynes & Robert J. Wright, in Entrepreneurial Management and Public Policy, Van R. Johnston, Editor. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2008. Dr. Wright taught at Capella University, Minneapolis, MN as a Lead Core Faculty in the Doctoral Program of Public Administration, School of Public Service Leadership. He has been recognized for excellence in teaching as a recipient of the Harold Able Award 2014 as well as the President's Award for Teaching Excellence, 2012. Dr. Wright also served as a Senior Adjunct Faculty in the Graduate School of Continuing Education, Norwich University, Northfield, VT. Areas of expertise involve Workforce Development, Program Evaluation, Public Sector Leadership, Public Sector Collaboration, and Emergency Management. Total Years Teaching: 15 years graduate level in Public Administration (MPA/DPA degrees)