By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D. 

Growing up in McGregor Texas, Dr. Quentin Wright spent most of his time in church as religion was a big part of his life. He grew up in a two-bedroom house which he shared with his mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and brother. They “were that group that went to church three to four times a week.”

Most of Dr. Wright’s childhood memories were in the church.  He and his mother’s early fellowship was with the Church of God in Christ, but he later converted to Baptist. Dr. Wright’s family was not poor, but they were not wealthy either. His description was, “It was a good childhood. I didn’t know what we didn’t have.”

Currently, Dr. Wright is President of Lone Star College-Houston North, but started his educational journey 20 years ago after stumbling into it by mistake. Upon graduating from high school, Dr. Wright was accepted to attend Angelo State University where he received a full track scholarship. As a junior in college, Dr. Wright’s professor, Professor Richardson, became ill and asked him to teach the class because he did not like to cancel class. From that moment, Dr. Wright fell in love with teaching. When Professor Richardson came back to class, he heard that Dr. Wright did a great job teaching. He told Dr. Wright, “This is something you should do.”

Dr. Wright was excited about this new-found love. He reflected on being an athlete, and how the idea of doing something afterwards was just not on his mind. “This was the first time I thought that this was something I could do.”

When he graduated from college, he was encouraged to apply for graduate school and seek a graduate assistant position so that he could continue teaching. He expressed, “To this day, I am grateful that this guy Mr. Richardson found something in me to get into education.”

Dr. Wright met the love of his life in grad school and became engaged. He followed her to Dallas and looked for a job. He became a financial advisor, and then a part time instructor. Stepping out on faith, Dr. Wright decided to give up his financial advisor job to take on two part-time teaching jobs: one in Fort Worth and the other in Dallas. “I don’t know why I did this,” he stated.

He kept both teaching jobs for a year, and then became a temporary full-time instructor at Mountain View College.

At that time, Mountain View College had a program designed to diversify their faculty. Their program was 90% white, with the majority being males. It allowed diverse candidates without much experience the opportunity to be a temporary full-time instructor for up to two years. At the end of two years, Dr. Wright would have to compete for the position. Dr. Wright mentioned that many of his part-time colleagues in his department resigned because they did not like the program.

Later, Dr. Wright went on to receive his doctoral degree, and shortly thereafter, an opportunity came available when his dean announced that she was leaving. At that time, Dr. Wright was in his seventh year of teaching. The faculty met and conducted a poll on who would serve as interim dean, and they selected Dr. Wright. He stated, “It was just ironic, because seven years earlier, I had this protest of me being hired.” Although there were times when Dr. Wright wanted to quit, but he didn’t. He kept the faith and kept pushing forward. He served as dean for five years, and in his last year at Mountain View College, he became interim vice president.

Dr. Wright began his journey at Lone Star College in 2015, where he became vice president at Lone Star College-Tomball. He served in that position for two years, and then became special assistant to the chancellor to work on a special project, which was focused on African American success. After that, he became interim vice chancellor of academic affairs, interim vice president of student success, and now in his current role as president of Lone Star College-Houston North. In just seven years, Dr. Wright has held multiple positions, “and he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”

Just like his childhood, religion has a big part in how he runs the college. Being purpose driven, he stated, “There is kind of a religious undertone in about everything I do.” Dr. Wright runs his college with the community being the heart of his focus. He mentioned that “We’re not a community college, we’re a college of the community. The community needs to be better because we’re here, which is why we’re so community focused.” Lone Star College-Houston North is always hosting food drives, and various other events for the community.

Since the beginning of his career, Dr. Wright was confident that he would become a college president one day. He stated, “When my wife and I got married, we didn’t have much of anything. I then printed out a job description of a college president. I told my wife, if you stick by me, one day I’ll be a college president.” He further mentioned, “I put that job description into a filing cabinet and never revisited it again.”

Whatever position Dr. Wright held during the span of his career, he tried to do the best job he could in that position. Over time, things happened, and opportunities became available. When reflecting on how far he has come, he had advice to give to his younger self. “The one thing I would say to my younger self is that everything you’re going through is for a purpose. The good, the bad, and anything else, learn from it, because you’re going to use it.” He believes that every experience he has had, led him to becoming president. He has taken the lessons learned and use them with the philosophy that is instilled at Houston North, and as a result, he has become a better president.

After Dr. Wright became president, he went back to his filing cabinet and found that job description he had printed out many years ago. He had a good feeling when looking at the description stating, “Sometimes I feel like we need some type of confirmation that we’re on the right path, and we’re doing what we’re meant to do. That was confirmation for me. The risk and choices I’ve made over the years. They were all worth it.”

Dr. Wright takes great pride in what he does and wants all his students to be successful. The one piece of advice he has for students is, “Don’t just go after a title. Chase a purpose and not a position.” He believes that if you get a position that you’re not meant to be in, then it’s not going to work for you.

When discussing students and success, Dr. Wright mentioned that one of the issues pressing higher education now is equity. “I just hope we continue to understand the impact that it’s going to be on our economy and livelihoods, if we don’t do more to make sure that black and brown students especially are educated.”

Other issues include completion gaps with Black males and funding. Dr. Wright made it known that the current funding model does not match the needs of students. These needs include childcare, food insecurity, mental health, and health care. He stressed how he would love to remove some of these barriers so that students can focus on their education and be successful. He believes that the funding is there, but what they can fund, is the issue. He stated, “We do a lot of fundraising because we can’t spend tax dollar money on those types of services.”

Dr. Wright has done great things in his journey thus far, and he is just getting started. When it comes to his legacy, he hopes that he can change the conversation on how we support and educate students. He wants his college to be the example of what a community college is supposed to be. He wants others to “rethink on how we approach the community and approach students. If that happens, then we can help many more students.”

Dr. Wright is happily married to his wife, Tierra, and they have two beautiful daughters.

 

 

October 16, 2023, HOUSTON, TX – Congressional Candidate Amanda Edwards has raised over $1 million in less than 4 months, a substantial sum that helps bolster the frontrunner status of the former At-Large Houston City Council Member in her bid for U.S. Congress. Edwards raised over $433,000 in Q3 of 2023. This strong Q3 report expands on a successful Q2 where Edwards announced just 11 days after declaring her candidacy that she had raised over $600,000. With over $829,000 in cash-on-hand at the end of the September 30th financial reporting period, Edwards proves again that she is the clear frontrunner in the race. “I am beyond grateful for the strong outpouring of support that will help me to win this race and serve the incredible people of the 18th Congressional District,” said Edwards. “We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s trajectory, and we need to send servant leaders to Congress who can deliver the results the community deserves. The strong support from our supporters will help us to cultivate an 18th Congressional District where everyone in it can thrive.” Edwards said. “Amanda understands the challenges that the hard-working folks of the 18th Congressional District face because she has never lost sight of who she is or where she comes from; she was born and raised right here in the 18th Congressional District of Houston,” said Kathryn McNiel, spokesperson for Edwards’ campaign. Edwards has been endorsed by Higher Heights PAC, Collective PAC, Krimson PAC, and the Brady PAC. She has also been supported by Beto O’Rourke, among many others. About Amanda: Amanda is a native Houstonian, attorney and former At-Large Houston City Council Member. Amanda is a graduate of Eisenhower High School in Aldine ISD. Edwards earned a B.A. from Emory University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Edwards practiced law at Vinson & Elkins LLP and Bracewell LLP before entering public service. Edwards is a life-long member of St. Monica Catholic Church in Acres Homes. For more information, please visit www.edwardsforhouston.com

As September 13th rolls around, we extend our warmest birthday wishes to the creative powerhouse, Tyler Perry, a man whose indomitable spirit and groundbreaking work have left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. With his multifaceted talents as an actor, playwright, screenwriter, producer, and director, Tyler Perry has not only entertained but also inspired audiences worldwide, particularly within the African-American community, where his influence and role have been nothing short of powerful. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1969, Tyler Perry’s journey to stardom was a path riddled with adversity. Raised in a turbulent household, he found refuge in writing, using it as a therapeutic outlet. This period of introspection gave rise to one of his most iconic creations, Madea, a vivacious, no-nonsense grandmother who would later become a beloved figure in Perry’s works, offering a unique blend of humor and profound life lessons. Despite facing numerous challenges, including rejection and financial struggles, Perry’s determination and unwavering belief in his abilities propelled him forward. In 1992, he staged his first play, “I Know I’ve Been Changed,” which, although met with limited success, was a pivotal moment in his career. Unfazed by initial setbacks, Perry continued to hone his craft, and by 1998, he had successfully produced a string of stage plays that showcased his storytelling prowess.

Calling all teenage student-athletes! If you have dreams of playing college soccer and wish to represent an HBCU, the HBCU ID Camp is your golden opportunity. From 8 am to 5 pm on November 11-12, Houston Sports Park will transform into a hub for aspiring male and female soccer players. Coaches from HBCUs across the nation will be present to evaluate, scout, and offer valuable feedback. Moreover, they might even spot the next soccer prodigy to join their collegiate soccer programs. This camp is not just about honing your soccer skills but also a chance to connect with the HBCU soccer community. You’ll learn the ins and outs of what it takes to excel on the field and in the classroom, which is crucial for a college athlete. The HBCU ID Camp is an excellent platform to network with coaches, learn from experienced athletes, and take the first steps toward your college soccer journey. To secure your spot at this incredible event, don’t forget to register [here](insert registration link). Space is limited to 120 participants, so make sure to reserve your place before it’s too late. It’s time to turn your dreams of playing college soccer into a reality.

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