MACON, Ga. — Mercer University’s Assistant Director of Fellowships and Scholarships Johna A. Wright was recently selected to serve as one of 10 members of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD) Youth Advisory Committee.
The USICD describes this newly launched committee as a dynamic platform for emerging leaders with disabilities ages 18-30 who are passionate about global disability rights, inclusion and the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“This is more than just a title for me, it’s a chance to amplify the voices of the disability community around the world, especially youth who are too often excluded from decisions that directly affect their lives,” Wright said. “My advocacy has always been rooted in dismantling barriers and challenging ableism wherever it appears. This role gives me a platform to connect my local and national work to international conversations, ensuring that disability rights are not treated as optional but as central to human rights.”
The 2020 Mercer psychology graduate is visually impaired and has worked to change the campus climate for students with disabilities and lobby for disability rights throughout the nation. As a freshman, she founded ABLE Mercer, a peer mentoring program that helps first-year students with disabilities to transition to residential campus life.
While an undergraduate, Wright was the only student board member for the National Federation of the Blind, where she served as vice president and social media coordinator. She also served as a communications team member and Outreach Committee co-chair for the National Association of Blind Students. In these capacities, she lobbied members of Congress about disability rights.
Additionally, as a Mercer Service Scholar, Wright traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, where she learned about the country’s disability rights and laws. Following graduation, she earned a master’s degree in comparative social policy and welfare at Tampere University in Finland through a Fulbright Award.
She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education leadership at Mercer, and her research explores “how higher education policies impact students with disabilities’ involvement and retention across global contexts.” Her goal is to ensure academic work is not isolated but actively contributes to change.
“I intend to use this platform to build bridges across borders, learn from international disability movements and bring those lessons back into my work,” she said. “I intend to bring back the knowledge and experiences I gain to enrich the Mercer community.”
