Dr. H. Jean Wright II, PsyD. MDiv, was appointed as the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Mental Hygiene, which Oversees the Agency’s Work on Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, Care and Treatment and Children Youth and Families, Among Other Bureaus on April 22, 2024.

Wright is a clinical and forensic psychologist who brings two decades of transformational leadership experience in behavioral health in government, private practice, rehabilitation, and academia to his new role at the Health Department.

During his time in Philadelphia, Dr. Wright led the Behavioral Health and Justice Division at DBHIDS where he helped develop and oversee programs and initiatives to support people returning from state psychiatric hospitalization and county jail. This work involved alliance-building across sectors, implementing trauma-focused practices to deliver behavioral health care to target populations, as well as trainings of service providers.

He is an Adjunct Professor at Temple University in the Department of Psychology and has served on a variety of boards, including The Mayor’s Task Force on Reintegration and The Philadelphia Board of Mental Health.

Dr. Wright earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, English literature, and cultural studies from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in psychology with focus in clinical and forensic psychology from Wright State University. He continued with post-doctoral work at Wilberforce University and Cincinnati VA Medical Center.