Patricia Wright
Class of 2026-27
Distinguished Service Professor and Founder and Director of the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments; Herrnstein Family Endowed Chair in Conservation Biology; Founder and Director of Centre ValBio Research Station, Madagascar
Department of Anthropology
College of Arts and Sciences
Stony Brook University
A global champion for the conservation of Earth’s biodiversity, Patricia Wright’s work spans tropical biology and conservation, primate behavior, the effects of aging on wild primates, conservation science, the development of medicines from rainforest products, and more, with the goals of guiding conservation priorities and inspiring the next generation of conservationists.
Wright discovered the Hapalemur aureus species of lemur in Madagascar, eventually establishing the Ranomafana National Park with the help of the Malagasy government. She is the founder and director of Centre ValBio, an international research station adjacent to the park.
She received her Ph.D. from City University of New York.
Wright is a member of the American Philosophical Society and is a fellow of the American Association of Science. She is also a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur fellow through the MacArthur Foundation.
Her honors include the International Primatological Society Lifetime Achievement Award, the Champion of Biodiversity Award from Madagascar’s Ministry of the Environment, and the Indianapolis Animal Conservation Prize from the Indianapolis Zoological Society, of which she was the first female recipient. She has also received several medals of honor from the Malagasy government, including the Chevalier d’Ordre National — the National Medal of Honor — and the Medaille Officier de Madagascar, both awarded by the president of Madagascar; as well as the Commandeur National Medal of Honor of Madagascar.
She has authored five books, 35 book chapters and 152 peer-reviewed articles.
Wright will collaborate with faculty and students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.