Jo Rae Wright Named Graduate School Dean

Jo Rae Wright, a cell biologist and physiologist who has served since 2002 as vice dean of basic science at the Duke University School of Medicine, has been named dean of the university's Graduate School and vice provost, effective July 1.

Duke Provost Peter Lange announced the appointment, which is subject to formal approval by the university's Board of Trustees at its meeting in February.

"President Brodhead and I are confident that Jo Rae Wright will bring dynamic leadership to the Graduate School as we embark on a new strategic plan and pursue the university's Financial Aid Initiative," said Lange, the university's chief academic officer. "Graduate education must have a central place in both of these initiatives if we are to achieve the level of excellence in research, teaching and service to which Duke aspires. I know Dr. Wright shares these aspirations and has many exciting ideas to promote them. The success of our graduate students, many of whom will go on to productive careers as researchers and members of the professoriate, is central to Duke's mission."

Wright was selected after a national search by a committee chaired by biology professor David McClay. She will succeed Lewis Siegel, who is retiring after what Lange described as "15 years of outstanding leadership of the Graduate School."

Wright said she was "honored to have the opportunity to build on the incredible legacy of a strong Graduate School led by Dean Siegel. I look forward to working with all of the schools and departments to implement a new strategic plan for the Graduate School, build interdisciplinary programs and further Duke's tradition as an innovative and exciting place to pursue a graduate education."

About 2,700 students are enrolled fulltime in master's or Ph.D. degree programs in Duke's Graduate School. Another 4,000 are enrolled in professional programs of various kinds. The dean oversees a wide variety of graduate programs and resources. More broadly, the Graduate School plays a central role in the university's mission of advancing knowledge and educating the next generation of teachers, scholars, researchers and professional leaders.

A professor of cell biology, medicine and pediatrics at Duke, Wright said she "stumbled into administration as a consequence of my passion for graduate education and post-doctoral training." Concerned after her arrival at Duke that graduate and post-doctoral students needed more help beyond their research training, she developed programs to provide the students "survival skills" in giving professional presentations, interacting with mentors and pursuing careers. She also was honored twice with the Excellence in Basic Science Teaching Award at Duke.

These efforts led to her appointment in 2000 to a newly created position of associate dean for graduate programs in the School of Medicine. Two years later, she assumed additional responsibilities as vice dean of basic science.

In these roles, Wright has developed programs to train graduate students in responsible research practices, coordinated curricular reforms and recruiting programs, enhanced efforts to recruit and retain graduate students, promoted new interdisciplinary programs and established an office of postdoctoral services. She also has supervised more than 40 students within her own laboratory.

A native of Clarksburg, W.Va., Wright received her bachelor's degree in biology and a Ph.D. in physiology from West Virginia University. She completed her post-doctoral training in biochemistry and cell biology at the University of California, San Francisco, where she later served at the Cardiovascular Research Institute before joining Duke in 1993 as an associate professor.

An expert in lung disease, Wright has focused her research on how pulmonary epithelial and immune cells prevent infection and inflammation and promote normal breathing within the lung. She is an editorial board member of several scientific journals and, in April, will receive the American Physiological Society's lifetime achievement award.