Marcie Wright, Ph.D., M.P.H. named interim associate dean for research
Marcie Wright, Ph.D., M.P.H., has been named interim associate dean for research at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Public Health, where she will provide strategic leadership to advance the School’s growing research enterprise.
Wright, an associate professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, began her career at VCU in 2008. She has built an impressive record of scholarship, mentorship, and service, most recently serving as associate director of the Center on Health Advancement in the VCU School of Medicine. In 2024, she received the Outstanding Term Faculty Award at VCU’s Faculty Convocation, recognizing her excellence in teaching, research, and service.
“Dr. Wright is a highly accomplished scholar and a respected leader with a strong record of advancing impactful, community-engaged research,” said Monica Swahn, Ph.D., M.P.H., dean of the VCU School of Public Health. “Her deep commitment to collaboration and innovation will continue to strengthen our research mission and expand our impact across disciplines.”
As interim associate dean, Wright will provide vision and leadership to enhance the School’s research mission, promoting a culture of inquiry, collaboration, and innovation. She will support faculty development, foster interdisciplinary partnerships, and guide initiatives that advance equity and improve health outcomes for communities locally and globally.
Established in 2023, the VCU School of Public Health is committed to improving health, well-being, and longevity for all through education, discovery, and co-learning with communities. With over $10 million in grant expenditures across 71 grants and 172 active projects in FY2025, the School is advancing research that addresses health inequities and transforms public health practice across Virginia and beyond.
A Carnegie-ranked R1 institution and one of the top 50 public research universities nationwide, Virginia Commonwealth University reported more than $560 million in research expenditures last year. Energized by its urban setting in Richmond, VCU is a hub for innovation, pushing boundaries, fostering collaboration, and driving discoveries that make a real-world impact.
A national search for a permanent associate dean for research is underway.
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