Q&A: Karian Wright

Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, the Graduate School
Director, Center for Inclusive Education (CIE)

Karian Wright is focused on expanding opportunities in graduate education. Through mentorship, research access and sustained support, she shares how she works to help first-generation and underrepresented scholars succeed in rigorous academic environments.  

Tell us about your role and what you enjoy most about it.
I oversee several initiatives that support the recruitment and advancement of graduate students and postdocs across a wide range of disciplines. I also support the university’s research mission by collaborating with my faculty colleagues to foster a positive research environment for graduate and postdoctoral trainees.

Many of our scholars are the first in their families to pursue a PhD. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a student persevere through the rigors of their training and accomplish a goal that may have, at some point, seemed unattainable. The best part of my role is having a direct impact on helping scholars achieve their dreams, particularly those who have been historically underrepresented in their fields. Scholars often say it would not have been possible without the support they received from the CIE.

How has your role changed?
We’ve had to navigate major challenges due to the changing federal funding landscape, but we continue forging ahead because we refuse to let our scholars down. They’re depending on us to pivot as needed to continue providing the support they desperately need.

What has been most meaningful to you about being part of the SBU community?
Being a part of this community is like being in a large extended family. There are so many people here who care deeply about their work and their colleagues, and it shows. This culture of care drives our work and fuels our striving for excellence.

When did you first realize you wanted to work in higher education?
Armed with my MBA, I started my career in the for-profit sector and initially loved it. Then I felt that something was missing. I wanted my work to be more meaningful. I wanted to make a difference. This is what led me to higher education almost 19 years ago, and I never looked back. From working in undergraduate admissions to advising, and now graduate education and postdoctoral training, I have found a home in higher education. It feels like the place where I belong.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in promoting diversity and inclusion at the graduate level?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was the sudden termination of several diversity-focused grant initiatives earlier this year. The cancellation of these grants caused immediate disruption to our students and postdocs, who rely on those funds for their livelihoods. This was a crushing blow, but with the help of the SBU administration, we were able to find quick solutions to ensure there was no lapse in funding to our scholars. This experience taught me that as a community, we can overcome the most difficult challenges together.

What makes programs like SUNY SOAR (Summer Opportunity for Academic Research) transformative for undergraduates?
By providing students with a high-impact research experience, financial and academic support, mentoring and professional development, programs like SOAR significantly impact students’ academic and career trajectories. These programs enable these students to pursue doctoral degrees and ultimately careers in research, which would not have been possible otherwise.

Tell us about the impact initiatives such as AGEP (Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate) and the Dr. W. Burghardt Turner Fellowships have on the broader landscape of graduate education.
Primarily, these programs are increasing access to research and pathways to graduate education for first-generation, economically disadvantaged and other underrepresented students. This is critically important because we need more talented students pursuing graduate education to help us solve our largest problems and keep up with growing workforce demands.

You were recently recognized with the Stony Award for Excellence in Leadership. What was that experience like — to be nominated by your peers?
This was an extremely humbling experience. I was deeply honored to be nominated. It meant the world to me that my colleagues considered me worthy of this great recognition.