Dr. Dawn Wright
Dr. Dawn Wright is Chief Scientist at Esri and Professor of Geography and Oceanography at Oregon State University. With expertise in ocean informatics and geographic information science, she's authored 130+ articles and five books. In 2022, she became the first Black person to dive to Challenger Deep aboard the DSV Limiting Factor. Dr. Wright contributes to influential boards like the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Ocean Studies Board and is an AAAS Fellow. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Physical Geography and Marine Geology from UC Santa Barbara, an M.S. in Oceanography from Texas A&M, and a B.S. cum laude in Geology from Wheaton College (Illinois). Her impact spans academia, research, and scientific leadership, making her a pioneer in oceanic exploration and diversity in science.
