Charles Wright, associate professor of art at Coastal Carolina University and chair of the university-s Department of Visual Arts, has been elected to serve a three-year term on the board of directors of the National Council of Arts Administrators (NCAA).

The National Council of Arts Administrators provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, the identification of problems and the generation of shared solutions to the issues that confront visual arts administrators in higher education. The council comprises visual arts professionals from schools, colleges and universities throughout the country. Membership is open to department chairs, deans, directors and presidents of art schools, directors of university affiliated museums and other positions in the visual arts in higher education.

"I see my election to the board of the NCAA as one of the singular most important events in my life," Wright said. "Over the years, my involvement with this group has shown me that all art programs in higher education, no matter how large or small the institution, are dealing with similar issues. Funding, facilities and how to effectively address the digital revolution in the arts are shared concerns. I am pleased to be involved with an organization whose primary purpose is to address these issues from a national perspective."

As a newly elected member, Wright will have the option of hosting a future annual conference at Coastal Carolina University.

Wright earned a master's of fine arts degree in sculpture from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri in 1983. While studying at Washington University, he worked on a major commission for the city of New Orleans with Gyuri Hollosy, and was later commissioned to create a piece of steel sculpture for art collections in the city of St. Louis. His work has appeared in a number of exhibitions from the East Coast to the Midwest. He earned a bachelor's of fine arts degree from Kent State University in 1978.

Wright joined the Coastal faculty in 1985, where he teaches sculpture and professional practices for artists. He is a member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the National Council of Arts Administrators, the College Art Association, Tri-State Sculptors and the American Association of Museums.