A federal judge with an extensive record of public, educational, and community service, Wilhelmina “Mimi” Wright is dedicated to equal access to justice and opportunity for all.

The only jurist to have served on Minnesota’s District Court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court, Wright in 2016 became the first Black woman appointed as a federal judge in Minnesota.

“I believe deeply in the promise of higher education. I’d be honored to help Harvard strengthen and sustain its commitment to bringing together a demographically diverse student body whose members value academic rigor and diversity of thought; an ambitious and engaged faculty devoted to advancing education and scholarship at Harvard and confronting challenges in the wider world; and robust leadership that fosters open inquiry and collaboration among faculty, students, and staff.”

A native Virginian educated in public schools, she clerked for a federal appellate judge after attending Yale College and Harvard Law School. Her early legal practice included counsel to school districts on implementing desegregation orders. As a federal prosecutor, she handled cases involving violent crimes and white-collar fraud, and was recognized with Justice Department awards for achievement and public service. She has served as a judge for more than two decades, earning numerous honors.

She has long been active in varied educational, civic, and cultural pursuits—teaching law; serving on school, university, and community-service boards; and working with nonprofits including the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Mardag Foundation, which serves at-risk populations. She was Macalester College’s commencement speaker in 2017.