Dr. Tommy Wright Named Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations at the Virginia Community College System

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Susan Pollard [email protected]
John Dezember [email protected] 276-964-7332

~Interim President for Southwest Virginia Community College to be Named in Coming Months ~

RICHMOND, Va. (Oct. 10, 2024) - The Virginia Community College System is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tommy Wright as the new Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations.

Wright is currently President for Southwest Virginia Community College (Southwest), one of the 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System. Appointed in 2018, he is the third president of Southwest since its founding in 1967.

"Dr. Wright's visionary leadership and unwavering commitment have significantly advanced Southwest Virginia Community College," said Dr. David Doré Chancellor for the Virginia Community College System. "His appointment is a testament to his dedication to higher education and ability to drive positive change."

As a proactive and innovative leader at Southwest, Wright has spearheaded the college's revitalization in various areas, such as agriculture, arts, and athletics. With a strong emphasis on academic advancement, he established an Honors College to nurture high-achieving students promoting a culture of diversity, thereby creating valuable learning opportunities for all. Adopting an entrepreneurial approach, Wright collaborated with the Southwest Virginia Community College Real Estate Foundation, LLC, to establish designated student housing, positioning Southwest as the first community college in Virginia to offer this amenity. This initiative has notably enhanced student access to housing, positioning Southwest as a trailblazer in enhancing the community college experience. Under Wright's guidance and vision, the college successfully relaunched and expanded its athletics program, introducing 17 NJCAA team sports and various club sports, enriching campus life and boosting student involvement. At the state level, in his current position as president, Wright has been instrumental in several committees, including chairing the IT committee of the Advisory Council of Presidents for the last three years and co-chairing an Academic Affairs committee aimed at restructuring developmental math courses for a more inclusive experience.

"I am truly honored to be selected for this position," said Dr. Wright. "I look forward to bringing my skills and experience to a broader audience where I can make a lasting impact and benefit our students, not only in Southwest Virginia but for the entire VCCS community."

Prior to serving as President of Southwest, Wright served as the Vice President of Finance and Advancement at Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tennessee, a position he held from 2010 until his presidency at Southwest. Dr. Wright also served from 1997 until 2010 at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, where he rose through several administrative posts, culminating in Director of Administrative Support Services.

The first in his family to earn a college degree, Wright received a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications and a Master of Education and Education Specialist in Administration and Supervision from Middle Tennessee State University. He received a Doctorate of Education in Administration and Supervision at Tennessee State University.

An interim president for the college and a specific start date for Wright will be released at a later date. "As Chancellor, I am dedicated to facilitating a seamless transition for the Virginia Community College System and the entire southwest Virginia community," Doré said. "We will take the time to carefully plan our next steps and will appoint an interim president in the coming months to ensure continuity and sustained progress for the college."

About Virginia's Community Colleges
Since 1966, Virginia's Community Colleges have given everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills, so lives and communities are strengthened. By making higher education and workforce training available in every part of Virginia, we elevate all of Virginia. In academic year 2024, Virginia's Community Colleges served more than 232,000 students across 23 schools throughout Virginia. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu.

About Southwest Virginia Community College

Southwest Community College was founded in 1967 and is in Cedar Bluff, Virginia. Serving the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell, it has served more than 115,000 students since its creation. For more information, please visit www.sw.edu.

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