Publishing exec to speak at Judson University's commencement Dec. 10
Publishing CEO C. Jeffrey Wright will speak at Judson University's fall 2016 commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Herrick Chapel, 1151 N. State St., Elgin.
Wright is the CEO of Urban Ministries Inc., the largest African-American Christian media and publishing company producing magazines, books, curriculum, video, audio and digital media content for churches nationally. UMI products have been used by more than 40,000 churches and a dozen religious denominations in its nearly 50-year history.
During his 20-plus year career at UMI, the company has been established as an innovator in Christian media content, and it is one of the first to incorporate video into church curriculum.
Wright joined UMI after a successful career in the consumer products and health care industries working for two Fortune 50 companies, Johnson & Johnson where he was a winner of the Johnson & Johnson Leadership Award and Bristol Myers Squibb.
He holds a bachelor's degree from Fisk University, a law degree from Georgetown University and an MBA in finance and international business from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He has also completed additional study in business development at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and at Harvard Law School.
A licensed minister, Wright has been active in ministry for more than 25 years. He has served several congregations as associate pastor, director of Christian education, adult Bible study teacher, vacation Bible school director and in various teaching and administrative roles.
He is the author of the book and study guide, "God's Vision or Television: How Television Influences What We Believe." He is also a contributing author to the book, "Non Profit Leadership in a For-Profit World," and he is active on several boards.
He and his wife, Lakita Garth Wright, a Judson Board Trustee, have four children and live in Chicago and Pasadena, Calif.
As many as 158 bachelor and master's degree students will graduate during the 76th commencement ceremonies at Judson University.
Graduates from the School of Business and Professional Studies' Masters, MBA and MAOL, and adult undergraduate, evening adult students programs will receive their degrees during the 10 a.m. exercise.
Graduates from the School of Art, Design and Architecture, the School of Business and Professional Studies, Traditional, the School of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education, Traditional Undergraduate, the Master of Leadership in Ministry program and the Master of Education in Literacy program will receive their degrees during the 2 p.m. exercise.