Office of the Provost names Constance Wright Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education
Northwestern’s Office of the Provost has appointed Constance Wright to serve as the inaugural Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education, effective Aug. 15. Reporting to the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, Wright will lead efforts related to the operations of the Office of Undergraduate Education that address emerging challenges and shape the future of undergraduate education, conceptualizing, managing and executing initiatives that support and enhance the undergraduate experience.
Wright comes to the Office of the Provost from Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, where she has served as Assistant Dean for Academic Standing and Student Success Initiatives since 2014. In this role, Wright leads across a broad array of undergraduate student issues involving academic standing, policy and process, and first-generation and low-income (FGLI) student support.
“Constance brings to this role a wealth of knowledge related to the undergraduate experience at Northwestern. Her proven track record in developing policies and practices to support student success makes her an excellent choice for the inaugural Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education,” said Karen Smilowitz, who will succeed Miriam Sherin in the role of Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education on Sept. 1. “I look forward to working with Constance, the Undergraduate Education staff, and our school and unit partners across the University to further advance Northwestern’s commitment to an outstanding student experience.”
Among her accomplishments in Weinberg, Wright led a redesign of the academic discipline processes to prioritize student wellness and development, and to provide thoughtful interventions to support students through their academic challenges. She personally case-manages students who are candidates for dismissal and creates plans for their long-term academic improvement and success in collaboration with college advisers and other key campus partners. She also has been deeply involved in multiple campus task forces and initiatives, including efforts to better support FGLI students.
“Northwestern serves an incredible population of ambitious students who bring with them a multitude of experiences and perspectives,” Wright said. “In my role as assistant provost, I look forward to creating thoughtful experiences, policies and practices that support student success.”
Wright began her career as a law clerk for Justice Joy V. Cunningham in the Appellate Court of the State of Illinois before transitioning to higher education. She worked as Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services and then Director of Contract Administration and Compliance in Academic Affairs at Chicago State University from 2009 through 2014 before transitioning to Northwestern.
Wright has a teaching appointment at University of Illinois-Chicago School of Law, routinely teaching a first-year academic acclimation course. She also taught the Professional Identity Formation course at Loyola University Chicago School of Law for many years.
Wright earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from North Carolina State University, a Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School, and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Loyola University Chicago.