DBU Inaugurates New President Dr. Adam C. Wright

Dallas, TX - On Friday, September 9, DBU inaugurated its sixth President, Dr. Adam C. Wright during a special Inauguration Convocation held in the Patty and Bo Pilgrim Chapel on the DBU campus.

Dr. Wright, who was elected as President by the DBU Board of Trustees on May 19 following a national search, assumed office on June 1, succeeding Dr. Gary Cook as DBU President. Dr. Cook announced his transition to the Chancellor position in February 2015, following 28 years of faithful service.

Several distinguished guests participated in the service, including delegates from sister schools, local government officials, and denominational leaders.

Dr. Cook expressed his gratitude for the selection of Dr. Wright as DBU President and said "Adam loves the Lord with all his heart and will turn things over to Him on a daily basis, and that is the most important thing a Christian university President can do."

Introducing Dr. Wright was Dr. Gary Singleton, pastor of the Heights Baptist Church in Richardson and chair of the DBU Board of Trustees. As he spoke, he turned to Dr. Wright and said, "We all believe together that there are incredibly rich days ahead for this University, and we believe that God has called you to lead this University for such a time as this."

Addressing those gathered, Dr. Wright thanked them for their kindness and for contributing to the spirit of worship that was evident during the service. He also took the time to provide his vision for the future of the University.

"Imagine," Dr. Wright stated, "a university so consecrated that its singular focus is set on loving God and loving others; so focused on being excellent in all things as a reflection of a perfect God. We will aim to be this university."

Going on, Dr. Wright offered his promise for DBU during his presidency and said, "We will stand as a global, Christ-centered university with a heart and passion for the world-with a compassion to serve and to lead others through the love and peace that only Christ provides."

A native of Oak Cliff, Dr. Wright attended DBU as an undergraduate student, where he met his wife, Candice. He became a student leader on the campus, serving as president of the Student Government Association, before being asked to join the staff of DBU his senior year.

As a staff member, Dr. Wright provided leadership in a number of areas, including food services, administrative affairs, student affairs, University housing, enrollment, and advancement. In 2005, DBU President Dr. Gary Cook appointed him as Special Assistant to the President for Advancement, charging him with the task of raising more than $25 million for the construction of the Patty and Bo Pilgrim Chapel.

He continued in this role raising support for the completion of Pilgrim Chapel along with other building and fund-raising projects, and in 2010 he was named Vice President for Advancement. In this role, he paved the way for unprecedented growth in fund-raising and development efforts, expanding the physical plant and increasing student scholarships.

After completing his M.Ed. in Higher Education and his Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, Dr. Wright was appointed in 2013 to be the Dean of the Gary Cook School of Leadership, where he provided strategic leadership by growing the academic offerings of the school, recruiting new faculty members, and developing new master's programs. In addition, he taught leadership courses, led domestic and international travel study courses, supervised doctoral research, shaped curriculum, and maintained an active role in international leadership and academic societies. While serving as a Dean and faculty member, he also served on the President's Internal Cabinet as a Vice President at DBU overseeing various executive and academic affairs projects.

In 2014, he founded DBU's Institute for Global Engagement, a Christian think tank with a focus on connecting scholars and practitioners in order to become catalysts for moral and spiritual renewal.

Dr. Wright's wife, Candice, received both her bachelor's degree and Master of Business Administration degree from DBU. She has served at DBU in various roles, including the last 10 years as the Executive Director of the DBU Women's Auxiliary Board.

The Wrights have two daughters, Abigail Grace and Katherine Elizabeth, and are active members of Park Cities Baptist Church.