Dr. Ron Wright, who has more than thirty years of experience working in community colleges, was appointed chancellor of Delgado Community College today at the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Board of Supervisors meeting.

“Dr. Wright is a remarkable individual who has a passion for career and technical education and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position,” said LCTCS President Dr. Joe D. May. “I am certain that he will make an outstanding and effective leader for Delgado Community College. I am looking forward to working with him as we continue our efforts to rebuild and strengthen the college.”

Acting on the recommendation of LCTCS President Dr. Joe D. May, the LCTCS Board of Supervisors approved the appointment of Wright, the seventh chancellor of the college. He will officially begin serving as chancellor on July 1, 2008.

“I am excited about the wonderful opportunity I have been given to lead such an outstanding institution as Delgado Community College,” said Dr. Wright. “It will be an honor to serve as chancellor and I look forward to working with the college’s outstanding students, faculty and staff. I am thrilled to lead the college at this time in history and pledge to do everything I can to carry on the rebuilding and continued growth of the school.”

Before coming to Delgado, Dr. Wright served as President of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (CSTCC) in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1997-2007. Prior to his service at CSTCC, he served as executive Vice President at Delaware County Community College in Media, Pennsylvania, from 1991-1997. From 1989-1991 he served as Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at the Community College of Baltimore (CCB) in Baltimore, Maryland. His other leadership roles include service as an Associate Dean at CCB and Chief Policy Analyst for the Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Dr. Wright has an associate's degree from Northeastern Christian Junior College in Villanova, Pennsylvania. He holds a bachelor's degree in Applied Psychology from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and a master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He received his Ph.D. in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Dr. Wright succeeds previous chancellor Dr. Alex Johnson, who was selected as president of the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) in Greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Johnson served as chancellor of Delgado from February 2004 until March 2008. Deborah Lea served as the Interim Chancellor for Delgado after Johnson's departure.

Delgado Community College is a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Delgado was established in 1921 and is the largest and oldest community college in the State of Louisiana. As of fall 2007, Delgado had the largest enrollment among all higher education institutions in metropolitan New Orleans with 13,217 degree-seeking students and nearly 9,500 students in Workforce Development programs. Enrollment at the Region 1 technical campuses has more than doubled year-over-year and in fall 2007 had 1,644 students.