Career and Post-Graduate Development
Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins, III
Title
Biography
Dr. Wright-Riggins currently serves as Mayor of Collegeville PA, Executive Director of the New Baptist Covenant and Executive Director Emeritus of the American Baptist home Mission Societies.
Elected on November 7, 2017, Mayor Wright-Riggins is the first African American and the first Democrat ever elected to this office in the history of Collegeville Borough in Montgomery County Pennsylvania. He defeated a fourteen-year incumbent with 60% of the vote in a community that is comprised of 85 % Euro-Americans, and less than 5% African Americans. Frustrated with the division and vitriol he witnessed with the national elections of 2016, he became determined to act locally to make a difference in his community to overcome divisions based on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, and political ideology. As mayor, he is now in his second term and has launched initiatives which convene and connect people across boundaries leading to greater dialog and understanding. He regularly partners with the academic, business, religious and not-for-profit sectors towards these ends.