Mr. Wright Goes to Washington

Marcus Wright standing in front of the mall in Washington D.C.

*Note: This story was written before the COVID-19 pandemic*

Marcus Wright came to Delaware Tech in pursuit of a career as a counselor. Through career guidance and internships, he learned how to turn his passion for public policy into his profession.

"I've spent the better part of my life searching out ways to make an impact in someone else's life," Wright said. "While at Delaware Tech, Dr. Deneice Berry told me the best way to find my purpose was to figure out where my passion aligns with my skillset. So, I aligned my affinity for politics with my desire to help, and now I'm working on Capitol Hill."

Wright is the staff assistant for the Washington, D.C., office of Delaware Senator Chris Coons. In his role, Wright manages all office operations, facilitates White House and Capitol tour requests, processes flag requests, supervises the D.C. intern program, and assists with the office's appropriations work. According to Wright, Sen. Coons refers to his staff as the "directors of first impressions."

"We have an open phone line with the American people," Wright said. "We field calls from all across the country, and it is interesting to hear the concerns of the general public. I hear from people that disagree with Sen. Coons on several issues, people that call and just want to say thank you, and everyone in between."

Wright graduated from Delaware Tech in 2016 with a degree in human services. From there, he earned his bachelor’s degree in social work from Delaware State University and started on his journey to Washington, D.C. He completed two summers as a legislative intern for Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and additional internships in D.C. with Sen. Coons and with U.S. Representative Robert C. Scott, chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor. He also worked for Children and Families First as a youth advocate and as a special schools paraeducator for the Seaford School District.

Over the past four years, Wright has leaned on the skills and knowledge he gained while attending Delaware Tech. He served as vice president of the campus activity board, was a student ambassador, and became a member of AmeriCorps, a voluntary civil society program supported by the U.S. federal government. He also learned the importance of networking and having a support system, in large part because of the culture the faculty and staff created.

"Delaware Tech is where I grew up, where I learned to become a professional, and where I learned to manage my time and prioritize my responsibilities," Wright said. "This is especially important now because Sen. Coons is involved in so much, sits on some very high-profile committees, and chairs many active caucuses. This means that time is at a premium, and we can’t afford to waste it."