Johna Wright

Johna Wright (she/her/hers) is a graduate of Mercer University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology. During her undergraduate career, Wright was selected as a Gilman Scholar to study abroad in Sweden, as well as a Global Leader Scholar for an exchange program in the United Kingdom. She was named Mercer’s Newman Civic Fellow, served as a Disability:IN NextGen Leader, was a finalist for the Truman Scholarship, was chosen for service in the Peace Corps as a community development associate in North Macedonia, and was awarded a Fulbright grant. She studied for her master’s in comparative social policy and welfare at Tampere University in Finland and worked for the Human Rights Action Unit of the European Parliament after obtaining her degree. Currently, Wright serves as coordinator of fellowships and scholarships and teaches in the INT program.

Education

• M.A., Comparative Social Policy and Welfare, Tampere University, Finland
• B.A., Psychology, Mercer University

Specialty

Disability studies, psychology and law, comparative social policy

Professional Interests

Wright researches legal decision-making and how people respond to both physically and intellectually disabled perpetrators of crime. She applies a cross-cultural lens to her research, with an emphasis upon Northwestern European nations.

Additionally, she delves into the intersections of welfare state theories and their effects on levels of systemic ableism in the Western world. She has worked to improve the Symbolic Ableism Scale as a measure for an individual’s level of prejudice against the disabled community.

Other Interests

When she is not busy with work and research, Wright can be found spending time with her black Labrador, Django, or watching baseball. She also loves all things aviation and traveling, and she aspires to visit every country during her lifetime.

Contact Johna Wright

(478) 301-4051
wright_ja@mercer.edu
Office: Wiggs Hall, Room 220