Alum’s career in admissions launched at New Paltz

Christopher Wright ’01 (Interpersonal/Intercultural Communication), director of enrollment technology at Emerson College in Boston and member of the newly formed SUNY New Paltz Alumni Advisory Council, traces his current career in college admissions to his love of helping others.

“This profession involves people,” said Wright, who was recently appointed to the position of interim director of undergraduate admissions at Emerson College. “At the end of the day, you are trying to help a student figure out their path in life.”

Wright began attending SUNY New Paltz after serving in the U.S. Navy from 1993 to 1997. Right after graduation, Wright was offered a job with SUNY New Paltz in the Office of Undergraduate Admission, though he admits he initially dreamed of “being a gym rat.” Wright was a member of the men’s volleyball team at SUNY New Paltz (under the guidance of coach Antonio Bonilla ’05g) and became involved with student athlete advocacy on the national level, serving on several commissions including the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

“I really thought I’d go into some sort of sports administration track,” said Wright. “But then, pretty much right before graduation, (former SUNY New Paltz president) Roger Bowen approached me and said there might be an opportunity for me to work here.” Bowen set up a meeting between Wright and SUNY New Paltz Enrollment Vice President L.David Eaton, and after applying for the job, Wright was hired in the admission office as a coordinator of multicultural recruitment.

“Now, 13 years later, I’m still in this profession,” said Wright. “And it was all because of Roger Bowen and David Eaton seeing something in me that I didn’t realize until I got involved heavily in recruiting and building relationships, which my major really prepared me for.”

Wright did take a break from college admissions between SUNY New Paltz and Emerson College, working as national outreach manager for the nonprofit organization City Year (a member of the national AmeriCorps network). Throughout his career, Wright has maintained his passion for college athletics. Until 2010, he served as a volleyball coach for several institutions, including a stint as head coach at Emmanuel College in Boston.

Wright says he is “always following the current student athletes and coaches I still know and love” at SUNY New Paltz, and he traveled to Huntingdon, Pa., to watch the Hawks compete in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships at Juniata College last season.

Through his service on the Alumni Advisory Council, Wright hopes to remain involved in the life of the College, particularly in the area of athletics, which is “something I’m still very tied to.” As a Navy veteran, Wright has also expressed interest in volunteering his time to “making sure that veterans who come to New Paltz are taken care of.”

“I want to continue to give back and make a better experience for students in any way I can,” said Wright. “That’s true to my heart.”