Dwayne Kwaysee Wright is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education Administration and the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives at the Graduate School for Education and Human Development (GSEHD) within George Washington University (GW) in the District of Columbia.

Dr. Wright’s research and social activism seek to advance educational opportunity and equity for all students, particularly those historically oppressed and marginalized in American society. In addition to his appointment with the Higher Education Program, Dr. Wright is a Faculty Member in the Education & Inequality PhD Concentration within GSEHD. He also serves a Faculty-in-Residence within the South Square Student Residential neighborhood on GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus.  

Originally from Port of Spain in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Wright spilt his youth between several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean before settling in New York City where he attended NYC public schools. A first-generation college and professional student, Dr. Wright earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from Pennsylvania State University in 2018. He also holds a Juris Doctor from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law (Penn State Law), a Master of Education from Penn State’s College of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The Norfolk State University (an HBCU). He is currently licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration/Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Management at the George Washington University School of Business.   

Dr. Wright’s current research is located within three broad theoretical frameworks: Critical Race Theory, Sociocultural Theory and Critical Pedagogy. His areas of interest include access, diversity, and equity policies for underserved populations in higher education; the use and influence of social science research in/on law; undergraduate and professional Multicultural Greek Life; and critical race theory & critical pedagogy in post-secondary education. His legal research interest focuses primarily on education law, First Amendment jurisprudence, the impact of identity on learning and learners, and American equal protection theory particularly when in analyzing race conscious admissions.