Rita P. Wright is an American anthropologist, and professor at New York University. She graduated from Wellesley College with a B.A. in 1975 and from Harvard University with an M.A. in 1978 and Ph.D. in 1984. She specializes in Near East societies, the Indus Civilisation and gender roles. She currently teaches the introductory archaeology course, required for the anthropology major at the university.