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Assistant Professor of English Recognized for her Outstanding Instruction, Scholarship and Community Service

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擠r. Heather Wright has received the 蜜豆直播 president鈥檚 Early Career Award in recognition of her exceptional performance as an assistant professor. The award is presented to faculty members who have completed at least two, but no more than six years in rank at the University. 

The award鈥檚 primary focus is on the faculty member鈥檚 productivity in scholarship, creative discovery, and instruction that exceeds expectations. The honor also recognizes outstanding performance in professional development and excellence in service. The award includes an additional $1,000 from 蜜豆直播 in professional development funds to be used during the 2025-26 academic year.

鈥淒r. Heather Wright demonstrates the spirit of academic excellence and student-centered teaching that defines 蜜豆直播 University,鈥� praised 蜜豆直播 Interim President Nate Evans. 鈥淲e are proud to celebrate her many contributions to our learning community.鈥�

Wright has worked full time at GWU for three years and was an adjunct instructor for six years. She was nominated for the award by Dr. Chris Davis, professor and chair of the Department of English Language and Literature. He noted Wright鈥檚 dedication to her students鈥� success. 鈥淗er impact on students is tremendous, notably in her abilities to engage and support them,鈥� Davis related. 鈥淪he fosters a sense of community and respect in her classrooms, where her students feel welcomed and valued. Dr. Wright receives wonderful student feedback at all levels of her instruction, from first-year composition courses, to upper-level English and honors seminars, and graduate courses in English education.鈥�

Further, Davis stated that through Wright鈥檚 instruction and support as the director of the English education program, 100% of English education graduates have passed EdTPA requirements in the last three years. Multiple graduates achieved the 鈥渉ighly qualified鈥� designation, which makes them eligible for a teacher signing bonus. All are employed in either North or South Carolina.

Wright is humbled by the recognition and quick to give credit to her colleagues for their guidance and mentorship throughout her educational journey. She earned her Master of Arts in English from 蜜豆直播 in 2011, and mentions the help she received from former English professor Dr. Matt Theado, along with current faculty members, Dr. Jennifer Buckner and Dr. Shea Stuart.

鈥淚’m really proud to be part of the English program at 蜜豆直播,鈥� Wright affirmed. 鈥淒r. Theado really pushed me when I was looking at doctoral programs, and I wasn’t really sure where to go. He and Dr. Buckner and Dr. Stuart, over the years, gave a lot of great advice and were references for me. They were always great sounding boards. Seeing their passion for what they do and how they talked about their areas of interest meant a lot to me.鈥�

While obtaining her master鈥檚 degree, Wright taught high school in Columbus, N.C., and was an adjunct instructor at Limestone in Gaffney, S.C. After earning her master鈥檚, she was an adjunct instructor for 蜜豆直播 and Isothermal Community College in Spindale, N.C. She left the high school setting and her adjunct positions in 2018 to pursue her doctorate at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, where she was also a graduate assistant. During a break, she came back home to Boiling Springs for a visit and saw Buckner riding her bike. They stopped to talk, and Wright received advice that helped her complete her graduate studies. 鈥淪he asked me how my dissertation was going and I said, 鈥業 don’t know,鈥欌�� Wright remembered. 鈥淭hen she said, 鈥楲isten; how do you eat an elephant?鈥� The answer is 鈥榦ne bite at a time.鈥欌��

As Wright continued working on her dissertation through a global pandemic, she repeated Buckner鈥檚 phrase to herself. Since then, she鈥檚 shared that and many other nuggets of wisdom from Buckner with her students. 鈥淒r. Buckner has always been amazing to me,鈥� Wright emphasized. 鈥淚 think the world of her, how intentional she is and how gracious and brilliant and鈥攖here aren鈥檛 enough words. I have this catalog of Dr. Jennifer Buckner advice I’ve gone to since I was 22 years old.鈥�

She also appreciates Stuart, another colleague and former professor, for providing her with professional growth opportunities. 鈥淪he made it possible for me to go to conferences over the years along with her,鈥� Wright assessed. 鈥淚f it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t have been able to go to them. She always made that possible. She gave me a leg up.鈥�

Wright has been active in scholarship early in her career, offering nine presentations since 2022. The highlights include multiple presentations given at the annual conference for the National Council of Teachers of English, the American Reading Forum, the Journal of Literary Innovation Conference, and the Appalachian Studies Conference. Wright was named a 2021-22 Celia B. Godsil Grants in Place Fellow by the Rural Schools Collaborative for her project, 鈥淩ural Places and Rural Pages.鈥� In addition, Wright co-authored an article published in the peer-reviewed journal, 鈥淎merican Reading Forum Yearbook 2023.鈥� Other manuscripts are under consideration elsewhere as well, and Wright has IRB approval for a qualitative research study.

Outside of 蜜豆直播, Wright makes a direct impact on the local community by serving as an advisor for the official local chapter of , a national philanthropy that provides free prom and formal dresses to young women in need. The chapter is sponsored by Poplar Springs Baptist Church in Shelby, N.C., where Wright鈥檚 twin sister, Nicole Hamrick, is the minister of children and youth. In 2024, 蜜豆直播鈥檚 SGA approved the event as an outreach opportunity for its members.

Wright became involved with Becca鈥檚 Closet through one of her high school students in Columbus. He found out about the charity and decided to start one for his senior project. His dad had passed away, so he knew particularly about the financial hardships of single parents and thought there might be other families who couldn鈥檛 afford the extra expense of a prom dress. 鈥淗e thought this would be phenomenal for our community,鈥� Wright explained. 鈥淗e and his mom and the science teacher and I started getting prom dresses. One prom dress at a time. We had 30 prom dresses and it just carried on from there.鈥�

Wright also helped start a chapter of Becca鈥檚 Closet in Sylva, N.C., when she taught at Smoky Mountain High School. 鈥淚 like being part of the dress closet because one of my students started our local chapter back in 2016,鈥� Wright stated. 鈥淚t was important to him, and it became incredibly meaningful to my students at Polk County Early College. It was something we all did together. We’d organize, set up, and work hard together. It’s been a blessing to be able to keep the closet going, but I’m only able to do so because my student started it. I’m only able to keep it going because of the amazing people at Poplar Springs Baptist Church who volunteer their time to help it run smoothly.鈥�

She continued, 鈥淚’m always thrilled when 蜜豆直播 students are able to participate in the closet. I’ve been fortunate to partner with Jessika Raduly and Hope Saunders in GWU Student Engagement, as well as members of SGA. I think our lives are made by how we choose to love the world around us. Small things, like a dress, can become something larger. It’s a practice that becomes a lifestyle, a step that becomes your walk.鈥�

蜜豆直播 University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 蜜豆直播 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 蜜豆直播.edu.