Dr. Tommy Wright
Cleveland State Community College has created a new campus division—the Institutional Advancement Division. The Institutional Advancement Division will consist of the members of the original Institutional Advancement Department, and the Marketing and Public Relations Department will also move to the new division. In addition, the department will also be the home to both the grant development specialist and the new coordinator of alumni relations position.
Dr. Tommy Wright has been selected to serve as the vice president for Institutional Advancement and lead this division. As part of that position, Dr. Wright will also serve as executive director to the CSCC Foundation. Dr. Wright previously served as vice president for Finance and Administration at the college for five years and as vice president for Finance and Advancement this past year.
“To accomplish the goals we have established in the Cleveland State 2020 Community First Plan, which includes a $20 million campaign, we need to elevate our efforts to promote the institution in all ways,” stated Dr. Bill Seymour, CSCC president. “I have selected Dr. Wright for this position because he provides an excellent opportunity to move forward quickly and effectively given his strengths and significant relationships in our community. He is a known and respected individual that will allow us to make a positive impact from day one. He has been working closely with me this past year to develop plans for our new Annual and Capital Campaigns, and it makes sense for him to continue this work with greater attention and effort.”
“After the development of the Cleveland State 2020 Community First Plan, it became very clear that in order to take the institution to a new level and to advance the institution, we needed to increase our efforts in Institutional Advancement,” said Dr. Wright.
D.r Wright said thus far, the college has been very “Bradley-centric” with many of its efforts, and looks forward to expanding capabilities across CSCC’s five-county service area.
“I have never been in a position where I’ve just gone to work from 8-5,” said Dr. Wright. “I was always attending community and campus events and that, to me, is what I enjoy most about working in higher education—the engagement with the community and the college.” This is something Dr. Wright plans to continue in his new role.
Prior to coming to CSCC, Dr. Wright was employed with Appalachian State University for 13 years where he held a variety of positions including director of Administrative Support Services for Student Development, interim director of Housing and Residence Life, director of Housing Operations and associate director of Housing Operations. He received his B.S. degree in Mass Communications from Middle Tennessee State University, his M.Ed. and Ed.S., both in Administration and Supervision, also from MTSU and his Ed.D. from Tennessee State University in Administration and Supervision.
Dr. Wright continued, “I’m excited about our mission within this new division to enhance the opportunities outlined in the Cleveland State 2020 Community First Plan—both on campus and throughout our five-county service area. We have much work to do in supporting these efforts including preparing for our year-long 50th year anniversary that will kick off next summer. It’s rewarding to help celebrate the past while assisting in the vision of our future.”