Dr. Wright is an Associate Professor in the Department of Policy and Public Administration at Rutgers University–Camden and a widely respected expert in charitable giving and strategic philanthropy.

His research bridges social science, urban studies, and nonprofit management, with a focus on community-based organizations and sustainable development. Currently, Nate’s work explores how social advocacy groups contribute to building sustainable neighborhoods, as well as broader topics related to nonprofit performance and accountability. His research has been published in leading academic journals, including Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Journal of Urban Affairs, American Review of Public Administration, and Sustainability. He is also co-editor of the book Performance and Public Value in the Hollow State: Assessing Government–Nonprofit Partnerships.

Since joining Rutgers–Camden in 2022, Nate has held several leadership roles, including Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives for the College of Arts and Sciences. Prior to that, he served as Director of the Master of Public Administration program at Texas Tech University.

Nate holds a B.A. and M.P.A. from Binghamton University, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Kansas.

As part of his work with NPDCSNJ, Nate chairs the Needs Assessment Task Force, where he leads the evaluation of data collected for the South Jersey Nonprofit Directory, helping to inform strategy and strengthen the region’s nonprofit ecosystem.