1961
Stanley Allyn meets with Novice Fawcett concerning a proposed state bond issue that includes a college in the Dayton area.

1962
Community fundraising drive nets $3 million in seed money to establish a public university in Dayton area. A 428-acre parcel of land next to Airway Road and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is purchased.

1963
Founders Robert S. Oelman and Stanley Allyn, with Campus Business Manager Frederick A. White, break ground for Wright State's first building, Allyn Hall.

1964
The Dayton Campus of Miami University and Ohio State University opens in Allyn Hall, September 8, with 3,203 students registered for classes and 55 faculty members. The campus comprises general college, science and engineering, Dayton academic center of Miami University, and graduate center of Ohio State University.

1965
State Legislature passes Bill #210 to create Wright State University as an independent state university, contingent upon enrollment totals. A contest attracts dozens of suggestions for the university name, from Buckskin University to Whatsamatta U. The Ohio General Assembly approves the name Wright State to honor Dayton's Wright brothers.

1966
Dr. Brage Golding, dean of the Purdue University School of Engineering, is selected as the first Wright State University president. Oelman and Millett Halls open.

1967
Wright State receives independent status when enrollment reaches 5,704. Students hold a mock funeral service and deliver eulogies for the departed branch campus. Graduate studies department created. Fawcett Hall and University Center open.

1968
Wright State's first commencement held on the Quad. Wright State receives full accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

1969
Western Ohio Branch (Lake) Campus opens in Celina. The Ohio General Assembly approves the largest single physical expansion in 20 years with a $14 million appropriation to build the University Library, Creative Arts Center, and Physical Education Building. Student Caucus sponsors WrightStock, modeled after Woodstock, on Achilles Hill at the eastern edge of campus.

1970
Hamilton Hall opens, housing the first 242 students to live on campus.
Enrollment reaches 11,000. First Wright State men's basketball game vs. Cumberland played on November 20.

1971
The first Wright State University October Daze is held. The three-day party features a battle of bands, nightly film classics, helicopter rides, and a flea market. C. J. McLin dedicates the Bolinga Black Cultural Resources Center, which opens on Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday to promote understanding of the culture and heritage of black Americans. Wright State officially becomes the Raiders.

1972
Wright State establishes its first women's intercollegiate sports teams in tennis and softball.
Graduating class numbers 2,500. When President Golding leaves to become president of San Diego State University, vice president and "first employee" Frederick White becomes acting president.

1973
Dr. Robert J. Kegerreis becomes Wright State's second president. The School of Nursing admits its first students. Ivonette Miller presents the Wright Brothers Collection to University Libraries. Raiders move into new PE Building. Dunbar Library, Creative Arts Center, Brehm Lab open.

1974
Students organize a drive to raise funds and gather food, clothing, and blankets for victims of the April 4 Xenia tornado. More than $3,000 and 69 van-loads of goods are collected.

1975
First Alumni Teaching Excellence Awards are presented at June commencement.
Biological Sciences building opens.

1976
First students admitted to the School of Medicine. Controversy swirls around a student request to show the film, Deep Throat. Ironically, while the university seeks an injunction against the showing, Bob Woodward speaks at Wright State about Watergate and...Deep Throat.

1977
Governor James Rhodes responds to the national energy crisis by ordering businesses to cut their hours and public schools to close. Universities are among the few "essential" institutions allowed to continue regular operations in the 24-county area served by DP&L. Thermostats are lowered, hot water taps turned off, and lights dimmed across campus. WWSU hits the airwaves as an FM station (88.5) for the first time April 4. Enrollment reaches 14,362. President Kegerreis helps the campus celebrate the university's 10th anniversary by passing out hundreds of pieces of birthday cake to faculty, staff, and students.

1978
In January, the heaviest Miami Valley snowfalls since 1918 close the campus from January 16 through 18, and again January 26 and 27. Wright State holds its first Campus Scholarship Campaign, with faculty and staff donating more than $39,000 to provide scholarships for continuing students.

1979
First students admitted to the School of Professional Psychology. Wright State men win the Third Annual National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament. The first building in the Forest Lane apartment complex opens. Wright States' production of Look Back in Anger is invited to perform at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by the American College Theater Festival.

1980
Theatre in Ohio’s 1980 survey, published by the Ohio Theatre Alliance, lists Wright State Theatre’s audiences as the largest of any college or university in the state. Attendance during 1980 is over 38,000. Fred White Health Center opens.

1981
Rike Hall opens.

1982
The Wright State University delegation to the National Collegiate Model United Nations returns for the first time with the top award, beginning an unparalleled 30+ year streak of bringing home top awards at the annual event.

1983
The Wright State men's basketball team, under the direction of Coach Ralph Underhill, wins the NCAA Division II national tournament. The Alumni Association presents its first Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award.

1984
The Wright State Department of Theatre Arts wins the first of two Ohio Program Excellence Awards.
Health Sciences; Engineering & Math (now Math & Microbiology) buildings open.

1985
Dr. Paige E. Mulhollan becomes the university’s third president. Faculty members Thomas Whissen and David Garrison compose the Wright State University Alma Mater, performed for the first time at commencement.

1986
Wright State University Board of Trustees approves a new mission statement, identifying Wright State as a "metropolitan university" committed to providing leadership in addressing the educational, social, cultural, economic, and technological needs of the Miami Valley. Enrollment nears 17,000. Rowdy Raider unveiled as university's official mascot. College of Engineering and Computer Science established.

1987
The College of Education and Human Services and Dayton Public Schools agree to jointly operate the E. J. Brown School as a "living, learning laboratory." Wright State athletics move to NCAA Division I. Enrollment hits 17,066. Lt. Governor Paul Leonard and President Kegerreis mark Wright State's 20th anniversary. New General Education Program implemented.

1988
The Motion Pictures area of the Department of Theatre Arts wins an Ohio Program Excellence award; produces first Big Lens Festival showcasing student films. Golf becomes first Wright State sport to compete in Division I tournament. Partnering with Dayton Public Schools, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and corporations, WrightSTEPP, a program to encourage minority and underrepresented high schools students to pursue science, math, and engineering, is launched.

1989
Ellis Institute for Human Development opens, providing a community mental health training center serving inner Dayton.

1990
The Financial Services program in the Department of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate wins an Ohio Program Excellence award. The Nutter Center opens with commencement and a performance featuring the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. Wright State research funding tops $20 million.

1991
Enrollment hits all-time high of 17,761.

1992
The Kellogg Foundation announces a $2 million grant to Wright State to fund The Partners for Community Health Development Project, designed to improve health care delivery to underserved residents and train health care professionals. Wright State campus celebrates 25 years of serving the community with an appearance on Good Morning America. Russ Engineering Center opens.

1993
The Center for Teaching and Learning opens, offering programs and assistance to faculty for improving teaching.
Women’s Center opens. On-campus housing reaches the 2,000 student level with the addition of The Village, apartment units for graduate and married students.

1994
Dr. Harley E. Flack becomes Wright State's fourth president. Wright State, the University of Dayton, and the Air Force Institute of Technology sign an agreement to create the Dayton Area Graduate Studies Institute (DAGSI). The university joins the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (now Horizon League). Student Union opens. Wright State graduate Jacqueline Collier, a Centerville third grade teacher, named Ohio Teacher of the Year.

1996
Virginia Kettering endows $1 million scholarship for geriatric medical education. External funding tops $26 million. Enrollment totals 15,697. A $14 million Campus Master Plan lays the groundwork for improved campus aesthetics, parking, recreation space, and pedestrian and vehicle traffic patterns.

1997
Wright State University's original production of 1913: The Great Dayton Flood opens the 29th Annual American College Theatre Festival at the Kennedy Center. The Information Technology Research Institute, a cooperative research and development organization, established. Wright State athletics retires "Viking" Rowdy and introduces the wolf as its official mascot. Asian/Hispanice/Native American Center created.

1998
Campus community comes together to remember President Harley Flack, who died March 29. Dr. Kim Goldenberg inaugurated as Wright State's fifth president. Inter-University Council estimates Wright State's economic impact in Ohio is $541 million. Graduate Danielle Rolfs earns top score on Ohio CPA exam. Xenia High School Teacher and Wright State grad Bill Richey named Ohio Teacher of the Year.

1999
Alumni Field, Wright State's new soccer venue, is dedicated. University College created. NIH awards a five-year $5.5 million grant to support research of Fels Longitudinal Study, the world's largest and longest-running study of human growth, body composition, and cardiovascular risk factors. Two new residence halls bring number of students living on campus to nearly 2,300. In what has become one of the campus' defining pieces of architectural artwork, Turning Points, is installed. University Hall opens. Campus community finalizes comprehensive program to achieve Y2K compliance of its hardware, software, and data systems in preparation for the year 2000. Wright State's RN-BSN program goes online.

2000
First ArtsGala held. College of Business Administration renamed the Raj Soin College of Business in honor of local entrepreneur and philanthropist. Wright State receives $7.2 million contract from DoD to study Gulf War Syndrome. Wright State receives WorldMark 4800 computer from NCR valued at $1.2 million and the largest of its kind in the Midwest. School of Medicine establishes Center for Brain Research. Theatre Department's world debut of 1903: Wings of Dreams, part of a Dayton trilogy produced by the department. Enrollment nears 15,500.

2001
Wright State University's first capital campaign, Tomorrow Takes Flight, kicks off. For third straight year, more valedictorians from Miami Valley choose Wright State to begin their college careers than any other college in the nation. University sponsors first Quest for Community conference, a statewide conference on diversity and inclusiveness in higher education. Wright State's Wright Brothers Collection invited to Paris Air Show. University community comes together to remember the victims of September 11. Doug Cooper, Wilmington High School science teacher and Wright State grad, named Ohio Teacher of the Year. Wright State sponsors first annual Cameos of Caring awards ceremony, honoring dedication and service of area nurses. Kaplan/Newsweek College Catalog recommends Wright State for its "high level of individual attention from faculty."

2002
Student team wins National Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, starting a five-year run of placing among the top-10 at this national competition. Wright State first university in the nation to provide Talking Signs® receivers to blind students. New Alumni Tower dedicated, replacing one torn down in 2000 to accommodate construction improving campus access along Colonel Glenn.

2003
Wright State community implements/adopts new five-year strategic plan that seeks to define the university's role in the world and future direction. The Student Union's new Union Market selected by American School and University Magazine as best higher education design project in nation. New international MBA program brings Chinese business leaders to Wright State to study. Wireless computing takes off on campus, with over 30 "hot spots" installed throughout campus.

2004
Wright State University awarded $11 million as the lead institution to create the Wright Center of Innovation for Advanced Data Management and Analysis (later renamed daytaOhio), part of Governor Taft's Third Frontier Initiative. Includes $32 million match from industry and government. Research and sponsored programs funding increased 9 percent in 2003-2004 to $50,462,293 for 570 awards, the highest in university history. Wright State continues to rank third among state universities in Ohio in federal research dollars. Matching awards from the Ohio Board of Regents and LexisNexis nets $1.46 million to fund the LexisNexis Eminent Scholar in Advanced Data Management and Analysis. Nursing Institute of West Central Ohio founded. Piqua fourth grade teacher Kathy Rank becomes the fourth Wright State grad to be named Ohio Teacher of the Year.

2005
The university receives its largest private gift to date, $28.5 million, enabling the newly named Boonshoft School of Medicine to expand facilities, fund scholarships, accelerate research, and develop innovative programs in global health and geriatric medicine. Students win national accounting competition for record fifth time in 13 years; no other college has won more than twice. Setzer Pavilion/Mills-Morgan Center opens. Enrollment totals 17,074.

2006
MTC Technologies Trading Center, a state-of-the-art simulated financial trading center, opens.
Wright State University concludes its first comprehensive campaign, "Tomorrow Takes Flight," which raised $123.1 million, more than triple the original goal set by national benchmarks. North Central Association reaccredits university for the maximum 10 years with no recommended improvements. Wright State records second highest enrollment growth among Ohio's public universities for fall quarter 2005, in contrast to eight of Ohio public universities who saw enrollment drop. President Goldenberg announces retirement; Provost David Hopkins to become Wright State's sixth president in 2007. Wright State is one of 13 four-year institutions nationwide selected for the 2005-06 Foundations of Excellence in the First College Year Project. Joshi Research Center, with its state-of-the-art R.C. Appenzeller Visualization Lab, opens.

2007
Dr. David Hopkins takes post as Wright State’s sixth president.