Elizabeth J. Wright, PhD, joined Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hazleton Board of Directors in January 2023. Ms. Wright is Chancellor at Penn State Hazleton where she began her career in 2000 as an instructor in English. She then shifted to Assistant Professor of English and advanced to the tenured position of Associate Professor of English in 2009. She moved to the role as Director of Academic Affairs in 2012, and in 2019, she joined the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in a dual role. In 2022, Ms. Wright was named Chancellor.

As Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Ms. Wright worked on a wide range of collaborative efforts across the state to support the success and progress of students, as well as the engagement and development of faculty. She managed initiatives across the campuses that provided students with expanded access to courses in various delivery modes while also working to modernize course offerings to include more diversity, equity and inclusion-focused courses.

Similarly, Ms. Wright collaborated with administrators and faculty statewide to maximize class enrollment by implementing the new course offerings and modes. To help instructors learn and succeed with these new teaching modes, Ms. Wright provided programs, training and mentorship. She also advocated for additional programs and funding to help new students prepare for the start of their academic careers at Penn State. In her role as Director of Academic Affairs, Ms. Wright oversaw all faculty and academic staff to provide students with the courses and support to be successful in an academic setting and in their future careers. Her efforts have played a key role in the improvement of curriculum, the expansion of degree programs, options and articulation agreements, and the completion of two multimillion-dollar renovations to campus facilities, which now feature modernized labs, classrooms and other spaces for students to study and learn. She also coordinated a partnership between Amazon and Penn State Hazleton, becoming the first Penn State campus to participate in its Career Choice program.

Ms. Wright also has served as a member of task forces, committees and other groups at Penn State Hazleton and within the university, with roles focused on strategic planning, digital learning, enrollment and retention.

Ms. Wright has earned numerous awards and recognitions during her career, including the Penn State Commission for Women Achieving Women Award, the Hazleton Educational Council Award for Teaching Excellence and several research awards. Her scholarly work also has been published in journal articles and books.

Ms. Wright holds a doctoral and master’s degree in English language and literature from the University of New Mexico and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Hampshire.