Draft:Wanda Wright
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Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Cowgirlgrit (talk) 23:32, 20 June 2025 (UTC)
 | This user has publicly declared that they have a conflict of interest regarding the Wikipedia article Wanda Wright. |
Wanda A. Wright
[edit]Wanda A. Wright is an American veteran, public servant, and academic administrator who has made significant contributions to veterans' services in Arizona. A retired colonel in the United States Air Force and Arizona National Guard, she led major initiatives benefiting veterans statewide before transitioning to Arizona State University (ASU), where she directs the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement (OVMAE).[1]
Early life and military career
[edit]Wright is a third-generation military servicemember. She graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1985 with a B.S. in Management and began her military career as a budget officer in the Tactical Air Command and at Davis‑Monthan Air Force Base.[2] After leaving active duty in 1990, she joined the Arizona National Guard, where over 21 years she held roles such as accounting and communications officer, executive officer, Air Commander during Operation Jump Start (2006–2008), and Director of Staff for the Adjutant General.[2] She retired from military service in 2011 at the rank of colonel.
Her decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.[1] She holds an MBA from Webster University, an MPA from the University of Arizona, and an MA in Educational Leadership from Arizona State University.[3]
Arizona Department of Veterans' Services
[edit]In March 2015, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey appointed her as Director of the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (AZDVS).[4] During her tenure, she expanded veteran support services, including a "Roadmap to Employment" initiative and increased state-level veteran hiring efforts.[5]
In 2018, she was appointed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans and later served as vice chair.[6] In September 2022, she was elected President of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA).[7]
She also led AZDVS through the COVID‑19 pandemic, implementing infection-control protocols in state-run veterans' homes, as reported by the Arizona Auditor General.[8]
Academic career at Arizona State University
[edit]On June 1, 2023, Wright joined Arizona State University as Director of the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement and Assistant Teaching Professor in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts.[1]
She leads interdisciplinary initiatives that promote research, teaching, and public engagement around military and veteran culture. Her projects include mental health programs, poetry workshops, employment roundtables, forest therapy groups, and collaboration with tribal communities.[1]
Recognition and honors
[edit]Wright was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame on May 6, 2024, becoming the first African American woman from the Arizona National Guard to receive the honor.[9]
She also served as President of NASDVA from 2022 to 2023, where she advocated for improved veterans' benefits and coordinated national efforts on behalf of state veterans' agencies.[7]
Personal life
[edit]Wright is a third-generation military veteran and often credits her family's legacy as an inspiration for her career in public service. In her personal time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and sustainable living, interests that she incorporates into her teaching and outreach efforts.[1]
- ^ a b c d e https://news.asu.edu/20230929-arizona-impact-colonel-wanda-wright-has-right-stuff
- ^ a b https://dvs.az.gov/director
- ^ https://search.asu.edu/profile/4026826
- ^ "New Arizona Department of Veterans' Services Director - Arizona PBS". azpbs.org. Retrieved Jun 20, 2025.
- ^ https://azpbs.org/horizon/2022/03/arizona-veterans-hiring-initiative/
- ^ "Home | Department of Veterans' Services". dvs.az.gov. Retrieved Jun 20, 2025.
- ^ a b https://dvs.az.gov/news-release/director-wanda-wright-elected-president-nasdva
- ^ https://www.azauditor.gov/reports/performance/arizona-department-veterans-services-state-veterans-homes/report/arizona
- ^ "- YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved Jun 20, 2025.