Kevin Wright (he/him) ’16
Kevin Wright ’16 is no stranger to complex systems. His career brings him both the privilege and opportunity to collaborate with leaders nationwide, both inside and outside of higher education, to transform them.
MA Student Affairs Administration ’16
Current Position
Senior Racial Equity Facilitator/Consultant
Organization
Center for Equity and Inclusion
Location
Portland, OR
I facilitate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) related training, employing culturally responsive and experiential learning facilitation techniques; develop internal capacity of client organizations to advance DEI; mentor and coach senior level executives; and serve as a thought leader in the design and development of next generation programs and curriculum.
When you joined the SAA program at Lewis & Clark, what career path did you plan to pursue?
I wanted to become a Senior Student Affairs Officer.
By the end of the program, did you have a different career outcome in mind? What either reinforced your original goal, or sent you in a different direction?
I still aspire to become a Senior Student Affairs Officer, but the program helped me realize I would like to serve in this capacity at specifically small or mid-sized institutions or community colleges.
Where did you complete your practicum and what was that experience like?
During my first year in the program I worked with the Office of Service Learning and Leadership at Lewis & Clark College. During my second year I was with TRIO Student Support Services at Portland State University. I enjoyed my experiences with both practicum sites and developed a greater appreciation for servant leadership, being trauma-informed, and being creative to address student needs and concerns.
How do you apply what you learned at L&C to your daily work?
One of the biggest lessons that came from each course I completed at L&C was how to navigate complex systems. As a Racial Equity Facilitator and Consultant, I have the privilege and opportunity to collaborate with leaders all over the country and support with transforming complex systems, both within higher education, and outside of higher education.
More Stories
Delfine DeFrank (she/they) ’21
Delfine DeFrank ’21 often draws upon the mentorship of the professors of color in her program along with the patience of being in a cohort.
Lucas English (he/him) ’22
Lucas English ’22 entered the Student Affairs Program with plans to ultimately become a lawyer. A conversation with a faculty member set him on his path towards a PhD instead and helped him discover the work that was truly meaningful to him.
Andrea Salyer (she/her) ’22
Andrea Salyer ’22 reminds herself that she doesn’t need to be the expert in everything related to social change and social justice. That, in fact, it is impossible to be an expert. Instead, she says her role is to be open, authentic, and driven by equity, justice and constant growth as a professional. Most importantly, she strives to instill in students that we are all whole people and deserve to be seen and honored as such.
Aaron Campbell (he/him) ’20
Aaron Campbell ’20 often thinks about his supportive SAA cohort when he finds himself experiencing challenging times at work and in life. He calls his experience at L&C “incredibly impactful” and credits it with helping him succeed in all of his professional roles.