Catherine Wright

By Lana Sieg
Dr. Catherine Wright had only 27 college credits left to complete during her last year of college. However, she lacked the money to continue and was forced to drop out. This event completely changed her life in so many different ways. She went back home to live her parents and while staying there she reevaluated her situation and future plans. Dr. Wright was preparing to receive a degree in Meteorology but had no idea what she was going to do with it. She also didn’t have a real passion or desire for the field. Dr. Wright explained, “Dropping out made me really look at what I wanted to do.”
About six months after Dr. Wright came back home she met her future husband John in New Hampshire. She explained, “We met on sort of a blind date because his friend and my friend thought it would be good for us to meet.” In 1990, a year and a half later, Dr. Wright and her John got married. When they returned from their honeymoon, Dr. Wright began to finish school. She also made a decision to change her major to communications. On the day of her last final, Dr. Wright was actually giving birth to her son, Eric. She said, “Luckily, my teacher let me make it up in late January. “ She then graduated with the rest of her class in April of 1992.
Dr. Wright believes that everything happens for a reason in life. She explained, “What initially was the worst semester of my life wound up being the best thing that ever happened to me, as I met my husband.” She adds, “We will be celebrating our 20th anniversary in May this year and I can’t imagine my life with out him!”
After earning her BS in April 1992 in business communications from Phillips University, She continued with her schooling. She later earned her MA from Texas Tech in May 1994 in mass communication with an emphasis in advertising and public relations. Finally, in May of 2005 she earned her PhD in communication with an emphasis in technology from Regent University. Dr. Wright said her biggest accomplishment in life professionally has to be earning her PhD.
Teaching has become Dr. Wright’s passion in life and her energy and charisma for it is contagious. She is currently a full-time communications professor at George Mason University. Dr. Wright has 14 years of university teaching, student advising and research experience. Some of the classes that she teaches at George Mason University are public speaking, small group communication, business and professional communication and interpersonal in the workplace communication. She is highly praised by her former and current students.
Dr. Wright is also a member of numerous organizations such as Eastern Communication Association (ECA), National Communication Association (NCA) and the Virginia Association of Communication Arts and Sciences (VACAS). She has also been chair of the Communication and Technology interest group and is currently the chair for an Ad Hoc Committee for Public Relations. She also conducts research primarily focused on computer-mediate communication (CMC), diffusion of innovation and small group communication and online learning communities (OLC).
When she is not teaching she enjoys traveling. She began her interest in traveling when she was young. Her father was in the Air Force so she lived in several different places, to include Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, England, Turkey, Oregon, California and New Hampshire. Over the years, Dr. Wright has been to about 43 of the 50 states and has traveled extensively in England and Italy. She has also visited France, Germany and the Netherlands; as well as the Bahamas and The British Virgin Islands. Dr. Wright says “I have so many memories from everywhere I’ve been.”
In 2008, Dr. Wright incorporated her interest in traveling and passion for teaching together. She became the faculty director for one of the study abroad programs offered at George Mason University. She is in charge of a month long course in the summer taught in Milan, Italy. The course is about Italian Media Culture and Society. During the trip, students will learn by visiting museums, cathedrals and local businesses. Students also visit other places such as Bologna and the beaches of Lake Maggiore. Dr. Wright feels this program is an excellent opportunity for students not only to learn in the classroom but also to apply what they learn in other countries.
Dr. Wright has many impressive accomplishments but she says “Professionally, my biggest accomplishment is earning my PhD. and personally is raising my two children.” Dr. Wright continues to teach full-time at George Mason University and is planning to teach different communication courses throughout her career. She will also continue teaching the study abroad program in Italy this Summer 2010 and hopes students will decided to come along for a trip of a lifetime!