When asked to reflect on what led him to a career in education, James Wright, a Policy, Organizational and Leadership Studies associate professor at Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development, points to his own school experience. “I grew up in southern Connecticut in an urban environment with primarily Black and Puerto Rican students and majority white educators,” he explained. “What I noticed in hindsight was that many of my peers—some of the most brilliant, witty and creative people—didn’t see that translate into academic success.” That experience, he noted, stayed with him. 

As he pursued opportunities after college, Wright carried those questions into every stage of his professional life. He began his career internationally, serving as a school administrator at an international school in Cairo, Egypt. The experience, he reflected, broadened his perspective. “I found my way to working as a school administrator in an international school in Cairo… and from there, I met someone who eventually became a mentor of mine.” That mentorship proved pivotal, encouraging him to pursue doctoral studies at Michigan State University. 

At Michigan State, Wright discovered the possibilities of higher education and academic life. “The training and mentorship that I received shaped the possibility of joining academia,” he recalled. The combination of guidance and scholarship not only set him on a new path but also helped him see the influence educators can have on shaping futures. 

Before joining Temple University, Wright spent eight years at San Diego State University. Both personal and professional factors drove his decision to return to the Northeast. “Even though I’m not from Philadelphia, there are a lot of cultural similarities,” he shared, having grown up on the East Coast. For him, Temple represents a place where his own background, professional experiences and scholarly interests align in meaningful ways. 

At Temple, Wright pairs personal insight with academic rigor. He encourages students to interrogate the structures that shape educational opportunity—and the communities they produce—while underscoring the role of mentorship in student development. His approach strikes a balance between scholarship and practice, grounded in the conviction that education should equip students to engage thoughtfully with the world around them. 

Wright’s scholarship has extended beyond the classroom with the publication of his latest book, Critical Ethnic Studies and the Global Pursuit of Justice, Teachers College Press. The book adds to his growing body of work as a scholar and offers readers new insights into the transformative potential of education. 

Through his teaching, mentorship and research, Wright demonstrates how experience, guidance, and scholarship intersect to shape both careers and communities. His journey reflects growth across local, international and academic contexts, culminating in his role at Temple University, where he shares those lessons with the next generation of students and scholars.