President of IWU

Dr. David Wright, Marion High School Class of 1973, has played a key leadership role in the growth of Indiana Wesleyan University — which now has nearly 3,000 students on its beautiful residential campus right here in Marion, and nearly 12,500 adult learners at the school’s regional education centers and online degree programs. In July 2013 he became president of the university.
Dr. Wright has experienced a wide range of roles at IWU over the years, beginning with his time as an undergraduate there (when the school, then called Marion College, served about 800 students). After earning his Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky, he served the university as a vice president, provost, and now president. This Marion Giant has played a truly integral role in shaping IWU into what it is today.
As provost and chief academic officer from 2008 to 2013, he played leading roles in the development of the university’s School of Nursing, the Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University, the expansion of the adult and graduate programs, and the ongoing health science initiative. The fruit of his leadership influence can be seen in the recently named Ott Hall of Sciences and Nursing. This modern, state-of-the- art building houses a suite of research labs, offices, classrooms, and laboratories for undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty members.
In various teaching and administrative roles at IWU from 1994 to 2005, Dr. Wright helped shape what is today the College of Adult and Professional Studies, as well as the Graduate School.
As an academic visionary for the College of Adult and Professional Studies, he set the course for the school’s now-robust online learning community. He wrote and piloted IWU’s first online course and created the framework for the development of online degree programs.
As vice president for Adult and Graduate Studies, he went on to help develop and implement several online degree programs, as well as the school’s first out-of-state regional education center. He also played a key role in the development and initiation of IWU’s strategic plan for regional expansion of its education centers, which now include sites in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Illinois.
In addition to IWU, Dr. Wright has held various teaching and administrative roles at Azusa Pacific University in California; the Wesleyan Bible Institute in Birmingham, England; the University of Kentucky; and the Intitut Theologique Wesleyan in Haiti.
Dr. Wright is also an ordained Wesleyan pastor and led churches in Fairmount and Fort Wayne; he also played a leadership role for his home church in Marion. He is also a licensed pilot.
Dr. Wright earned his bachelor’s degree in Christian ministries and biblical studies from Indiana Wesleyan University in 1977; his master’s degree in biblical studies from George Fox University in 1980; and his Ph.D. in educational policy studies and evaluation from the University of Kentucky in 1990.
He and his wife (and fellow IWU graduate), Helen, have two daughters, Christin and Andrea, and three grandchildren.