When he returned to Foggy Bottom—this time as president emeritus—on Thursday afternoon, Mark S. Wrighton did what he would do so often as the 18th president of the George Washington University. He took a walk around the campus to take in the scenery and energy of the place he was tasked with leading from his arrival in January 2022 until his departure in June 2023.
On his stroll, Wrighton encountered a student who recognized him, and the two had a brief chat about what the student had accomplished so far while studying at the university. That visibility was a hallmark of Wrighton’s tenure as president, and it’s only fitting that his official portrait—an honor bestowed on every president emeritus of the university—depicts him sitting on a bench in University Yard on a bright, sunny day with students either passing through or lounging on the grass.
And, of course, his right arm is draped around his beloved dog, Spike, who became just as much a fixture on GW’s campus during the Wrightons’ 18-month stay.
“I would have brought Spike here tonight, but I didn’t want to be upstaged,” Wrighton joked at the official portrait unveiling ceremony Thursday evening inside Science and Engineering Hall.
The portrait’s painter, GW alumnus Bradley Stevens, B.F.A. ’76, M.F.A. ’79, photographed Wrighton and Spike several times during the process and quickly grasped the portrait’s tone after some of their initial interactions.
“During my first meeting with President Wrighton, I sensed his inner poise and calm demeanor—qualities I aimed to capture in his portrait,” Stevens said. “We discussed possible settings for the painting, and when he mentioned how he enjoys taking daily walks with Spike around the campus to interact with students, I knew I had found the theme.”
Zenith Gallery founder and creator Margery Goldberg, B.A. ’72, spoke on Stevens’ behalf Thursday night.
That poise and thoughtfulness were staples of Wrighton’s leadership style as he guided the university through the first stage of its third century of operation. During his tenure, Wrighton strengthened the university’s commitment to academic excellence by enhancing the medical enterprise, recruiting high-quality faculty, and bolstering the university’s organizational structure to advance the teaching and research mission.
Under his leadership, GW received an invite to join the prestigious 71-member Association of American Universities, an honor bestowed to leading research universities in the United States and Canada.
“I realized very quickly that GW is a much greater university than I had thought,” Wrighton said. “This is a great university founded more than 200 years ago. GW has a rich history and many wonderful, high-impact achievements in education and original scholarship.”
Wrighton also guided the university through a process to define the principles of shared governance and actively engaged the Board of Trustees, faculty and administration.
In addition, he deepened the university’s relationship with D.C. by engaging local government and community members on GW interests, including the Penn West Equity and Innovation District. He worked to attract students of all backgrounds by improving the student experience, expanding financial aid and resources, including through philanthropic campaigns and university endowment funding directed to need-based aid. He also oversaw a broad community engagement process to develop the university’s new moniker and guided the establishment of 14 new professorships.
“Although you were only with us for a short period of time, your tenure as president was deeply impactful across the university,” said Board of Trustees Chair Grace Speights, J.D. ’82.
Knowing his appointment as GW president would be brief, Wrighton was clear on his mission from day one. After serving for nearly 24 years as chancellor and chief executive officer at Washington University in St. Louis and five years before that as provost at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wrighton was charged with sustaining a foundation of world-class faculty, staff and students as the university conducted a search for his successor.
That successor, President Ellen M. Granberg, was honored to welcome Wrighton back to GW on Thursday to thank him for the foundation that she is continuously building upon herself.
“Mark, you have made many lasting contributions to GW and the higher ed community more broadly, and I know we are only scratching the surface today,” said Granberg, who assumed duties as the university’s 19th president on July 1, 2023. “Thank you for your enduring belief in our university and your incredible partnership and support as I took on the 19th presidency.”
Joined Thursday by his daughter and son-in-law who live in the D.C. area, Wrighton made sure to thank the people who helped make his time at GW memorable. On behalf of him and his wife, Risa, who—like Spike—was unable to attend Thursday, Wrighton acknowledged the strength of the GW community and said they will forever remember their time at GW with warmth and fondness.
“Universities are all about people, and GW has a tremendous group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends,” Wrighton said. “It's a great institute. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this community.”
