Professor of Biology Justin Wright will serve as the next Graduate Dean for Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, according to a Feb. 18 announcement from Dean Valerie Ashby.
Wright is a community and ecosystem ecologist whose research focuses on the causes and consequences of patterns of biological diversity across the planet. He is currently the Director of Graduate Studies for the University Program in Ecology and a member of Duke Academic Council. He also served as Associate Chair for Ecology, Evolutionary and Organismal Biology in the Department of Biology from 2017-2020.
"I have always been impressed by the way Justin listens closely to his colleagues, respects disciplinary differences, and takes time to formulate his own thoughts before taking a position on any subject," Ashby noted in the announcement. "He has also demonstrated his commitment to excellence in graduate education and always puts our students first."
The Graduate Dean for Trinity College works closely with The Graduate School to ensure coordination in actively serving graduate students in areas of strategic importance, with particular emphasis on:
Wright's appointment follows the term of Neil McWilliam, Walter H. Annenberg Professor of Art, Art History & Visual Studies, who concluded his tenure this winter as the first-ever Graduate Dean for Trinity College.
"(Neil) set a high bar for the value that this role could bring to our graduate students and the many Trinity faculty and staff who teach, mentor and serve them," Ashby said.
Wright will begin his term as Graduate Dean on April 1.
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences