Mark S. Wrighton, PhD, is the James and Mary Wertsch Distinguished University Professor and Chancellor Emeritus at Washington University in St. Louis.
Born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1949, Wrighton earned his BS degree with honors in chemistry from Florida State University in 1969. He did his graduate work at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) under Professors Harry B. Gray and George S. Hammond, receiving his PhD in 1972. Based on his research accomplishments as a PhD student, Wrighton was named the first recipient of the Herbert Newby McCoy Award at Caltech.
Wrighton started his career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1972 as assistant professor of chemistry. He was appointed associate professor in 1976 and professor in 1977. From 1981 until 1989 he held the Frederick G. Keyes Chair in Chemistry. In 1989 he was appointed the first holder of the Ciba-Geigy Chair in Chemistry. He was Head of the Department of Chemistry from 1987-90 and became Provost of MIT in 1990, a post he held until the summer of 1995.
In July 1995, Wrighton became the 14th chancellor and chief executive officer of Washington University in St. Louis, a position he held for almost 24 years. Under his leadership, the university made significant progress in student quality, campus improvements, resource development, curriculum and international reputation.
During Wrighton’s tenure as chancellor, Washington University saw a more than two-fold increase in undergraduate applications, more than 350 new endowed professorships for faculty, a redesigned Arts & Sciences curriculum, newly created programs in biomedical engineering, public health, American culture studies, and completion of more than 50 new buildings for Arts & Sciences, business, design and visual arts, engineering, law, medicine, social work, and residential life. One of the most outstanding construction projects under Wrighton’s leadership was the redevelopment of the East End of the Danforth Campus.
Two major, multi-year fundraising initiatives were conducted during Chancellor Wrighton’s tenure. In 1998 the university publicly launched a billion-dollar campaign to build resources for student scholarships, professorships, other endowed program support and new buildings. The campaign continued through 2004, surpassed its goal, and raised more than $1.55 billion. The most recent capital campaign ― Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University ― built on the university’s strong history and further evolved its global leadership by focusing on strengthening the university’s impact in four key areas: preparing the leaders of tomorrow, advancing human health, inspiring innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhancing the quality of life. The Leading Together Campaign was publicly launched in October 2012 and concluded in June 2018. The Campaign exceeded its $2.2 billion dollar goal with more than $3.3 billion realized.
After stepping down as chancellor of Washington University in July 2019, Wrighton served as the president of The George Washington University (GWU) for an 18-month term from January 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. He was granted the status of “President Emeritus” by the GWU Board of Trustees.
Wrighton currently serves on the Board of Directors of Corning Incorporated, Forest Park Forever, and is Chairman of the St. Louis Science Center’s Board of Commissioners and the Center for Civic Research and Innovation. He also serves as: an Honorary Emeritus Trustee of Washington University in St. Louis; a Trustee of Concordance and the Institute of International Education; and he is a Life Member Emeritus of the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Wrighton is the author or co-author of more than 300 articles published in professional and scholarly journals, and he holds 16 patents.