Wright State University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Wright State University is a public research university located in Fairborn, Ohio, near Dayton, and is part of the University System of Ohio. Established in 1964 as a branch campus of Miami University and The Ohio State University, it became an independent institution in 1967 and was named after aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright, who lived in the Dayton area. The university was created to provide public higher education opportunities in a region that lacked a state university, supported by a successful community fundraising campaign and land donated by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Today, Wright State offers a wide range of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs and is classified as an R2 doctoral university with high research activity. In addition to its main campus, the university operates the Wright State University–Lake Campus near Celina, Ohio. Wright State has played a notable role in public affairs, hosting major political campaign events and being selected as the original host site for the first 2016 U.S. presidential debate before withdrawing due to security costs. The university celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 and became a tobacco-free campus the same year. In 2019, faculty members represented by the American Association of University Professors conducted a historic 20-day strike, one of the longest faculty strikes in U.S. higher education history, which ended after a negotiated agreement. Susan Edwards became president in 2020, succeeding several previous leaders, including Cheryl B. Schrader, the university’s first female president. The campus is particularly known for its extensive underground tunnel system connecting most academic buildings, originally designed for maintenance access but now widely used by students and staff. This network has contributed to Wright State’s strong reputation for accessibility and wheelchair-friendly infrastructure. The university’s athletic teams, known as the Raiders, compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Horizon League, further enhancing its presence in academics, research, community engagement, and collegiate athletics.