LaNika L. Wright, PhD, WHNP-BC, SANE-A, FACHA

LaNika L. Wright, PhD, WHNP-BC, SANE-A is a senior higher education executive and clinician-scholar with more than two decades of experience advancing student health, mental health, and well-being in college and university settings. She currently serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for Health and Well-Being and Dean of Students at East Carolina University, where she provides executive leadership for Student Health Services, the Center for Counseling and Student Development, Campus Recreation and Wellness, The Dean of Students Office/ CARES Support and the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. In addition to her leadership roles, LaNika is board certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and a surveyor for AAAHC.

LaNika received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Tennessee State University, Master of Science in Nursing from the  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a concentration as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and a Doctorate in Philosophy in Nursing from East Carolina University.

Dr. Wright has led complex organizational change initiatives, including the development and oversight of comprehensive student health services and trauma-informed, survivor-centered care programs. She is a leader in college health, she has held multiple elected leadership roles within the Southern College Health Association, including President, and currently serves in leadership with the American College Health Association. A frequently invited presenter and panelist, Dr. Wright speaks on topics including student mental health, integrated behavioral health, sexual violence prevention and response, trauma response, self-care and well-being, and executive leadership in higher education. She brings a practical, systems-focused perspective grounded in clinical expertise, policy development, and decades of experience supporting student success and well-being.

LaNika has been married to her husband of 22 years, Dr. Marion Wright Jr. She is the mother of 2 amazing children, Marion III and Monique. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, spending time with her family, and serving in her church.