Wake Forest University welcomed its 14th president, Dr. Susan R. Wente, on July 1 after first announcing her selection as president in late January.
Wente succeeds Nathan O. Hatch, who was president of the institution for the past 16 years and announced his retirement in October 2020. Wente said she became interested in the role at WFU for two reasons.
"First, I believe Wake Forest is a great university. This is an institution that embraces the values it professes, takes seriously its commitment to its mission and upholds its responsibilities to its people," she said in a message to the WFU community. "Second, as a great university, we must set a high standard within higher education, and I believe I can contribute to this community’s collective and ongoing pursuit of excellence."
Before joining WFU, Wente was the provost at Vanderbilt University, the first in the university's history. She is also the first female president in WFU's history.
Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag, CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, the first women to hold that title, said she is excited by Wente's arrival.
"Dr. Wente is a highly regarded biomedical scientist, an exceptional higher education leader who also has experience in academic medicine and a passionate advocate of equity and inclusion," Freischlag said in January following the announcement of Wente's appointment.
"She brings the perfect balance of being both a steady leader and an inspired visionary who embraces innovation and discovery," added Freischlag, who also is the dean of the Wake Forest School of Medicine.
Wente developed a 10-year strategic plan for Vanderbilt and served as the interim chancellor for the university from August 2019 to June 2020, leading it's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While at Vanderbilt, Wente spearheaded efforts to create a new structure for the university and medical center's relationship. Wake Forest Baptist Health, which includes WFU's School of Medicine, began a strategic partnership with Atrium Health in October 2020, and the Charlotte-based health system will invest $3.4 billion at WFBH over 10 years.
"I am eager to meet all of you and get started writing the next chapter of Wake Forest's story," Wente said. "It is a time of new beginnings. With a commitment to building further trust, transparency and teamwork, I look forward to forging our new beginnings together."