Influential Woman · Higher Education
Je'Nai Righter, EdD
Assistant Provost, Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Her Story
About JeNai
Je’Nai Righter, EdD, is a dedicated higher education leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing student success, organizational strategy, and equity-centered systems. Her career began in K–12 education, where she worked with children in an inner-city community as an aspiring English teacher. Recognizing that she wanted to create broader systemic impact, Je’Nai transitioned into higher education to help shape the leaders and educators who influence future generations. Throughout her career, she has served in leadership roles at Lincoln University, University of the Sciences, Immaculata University, Neumann University, and Thomas Jefferson University, where she currently serves as Assistant Provost. At Thomas Jefferson University, Je’Nai focuses on strategic systems building, operational excellence, leadership development, and creating environments where individuals can grow with dignity and purpose. Her work includes aligning initiatives with institutional strategy, guiding teams, developing leadership opportunities for graduate and professional health science leaders, strengthening community partnerships, supporting accreditation efforts, advancing sustainability initiatives, and ensuring operational decisions support both institutional goals and student success. A passionate advocate for psychologically safe environments, Je’Nai believes leaders and teams thrive when they are encouraged to learn, adapt, and make mistakes as part of the growth process without fear of losing their sense of value or belonging.
Grounded in faith, resilience, and a commitment to service, Je’Nai’s leadership philosophy centers on integrity, trust, compassion, and authenticity. She credits her ability to navigate challenges and create meaningful change to the lessons shaped by her own experiences and the importance of remembering her “why.” Beyond her professional role, Je’Nai is a wife, mother, mentor, and advocate for developing leaders who are prepared to serve with purpose. Through her work in higher education and leadership development, she continues to build pathways that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and contribute to the formation of future global leaders.
Along with her husband, Je'Nai is the cofounder of Pure Living Enterprise, comprised on multiple organizations that support the holistic development and restoration of leaders across generations and marketplace sectors.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with JeNai
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith in Jesus Christ. My faith and the resilience I have groomed through my own life experiences have been essential. If it wasn't for my faith, I would have turned away from something I was passionate about because of the fear, the bureaucracy, and the holding back of knowledge that could help inform leaders for futuristic impact. My faith keeps me grounded and helps me focus on fulfilling what God has given me to fulfill at any moment. I've learned that if I'm not present for myself and if I'm not being filled by my God and allowing space for Him to lead and guide me into everything, I wouldn't be able to fulfill the purpose that I have from God for my life, and I would negatively impact the purpose of those He's given me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to remember your why. When the what's and the how's and the who's of any environment seem to challenge your presence within an environment or within a moment, it's important to be grounded by why you are investing your talent, why you are investing your leadership, and why you are investing your presence. Your why keeps you grounded, and it helps you to focus on fulfilling what God has given you to fulfill at any moment, so that you aren't uprooted by the turbulence that may come from others.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to keep a standard, get a standard, and never lower your standards. It's essential to maintain high standards for yourself and your work as you navigate your career in higher education.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field right now are technological advancement with AI and the financial hardship with degree attainment. However, these challenges present an opportunity for corporate organizations and nonprofits to support and undergird the work of young leaders that are emerging, who have potential but need greater support. This is an opportunity for higher education not to continue to look at donors from an operational support lens, but from a lens to undergird the work of leaders that are going to help shape the future. Too often in higher education, we just look at what dollars can be brought to expand our mission as a structure and as an institution, but we've forgotten that our mission and our legacy is only carried by those that we educate and those that we inspire. So it's now a time for transformation in how we advance as a pillar of our society.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are integrity, trust, diligence, authenticity, and compassion. These values guide how I show up as a leader and how I interact with others, ensuring that I care for the whole person in everything I do.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Pennsylvania
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.