O'Neill School at IU Indianapolis
801 W. Michigan Street
BS 4063
Indianapolis, IN
46202
Biography
Tamra Wright is a faculty member at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Indianapolis, where she teaches courses in criminal justice and public affairs. She joined the school in 2016 and brings over two decades of cross-sector experience in public education reform, nonprofit leadership, and systems-level program design.
Dr. Wright’s scholarship explores the intersection of social work and criminal justice, with a particular interest in juvenile justice systems, examining how structural and institutional dynamics shape service delivery, practitioner experiences, and outcomes for justice-involved youth. Grounded in qualitative inquiry, particularly hermeneutic phenomenology, her work contributes to broader discussions on justice system reform and interprofessional collaboration.
She is also trained in mediation and intergroup dialogue (IGD) facilitation and collaborates with campus and community partners to promote communication and shared understanding in practice.
Education
- Ph.D., Social Work, Indiana University
- M.S., Criminal Justice, Southeast Missouri State University
- M.P.A., Policy Management, Georgia College and State University
- B.A., Speech Communication, University of Georgia
Highlights
- IUPUI Favorite Professor, fall 2023
- IUPUI Favorite Professor, fall 2018
- Next Generation 2.0 Leadership Program (2017–18 cohort)
- City of Indianapolis Mayor’s Office of Education, Mayor Gregory A. Ballard Acknowledgement of Service (2015)
- Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI), Educational Opportunity Association (2012)
- Outstanding Presenter, National TRIO Day, Southern Illinois University (2008)
- Outstanding Service, Crowder College Administrative Council (2005)