The dual commitments of a founder

This coming Thursday we will gather in Wait Chapel for our traditional Founders Day celebration, marking 191 years of commitment to our academic mission. Reflecting on this commitment has been particularly poignant over the past several weeks as we are witnessing a rapidly changing landscape for research universities. A series of executive orders, federal policy announcements, and subsequent legal challenges are impacting all of higher education and Wake Forest. 

We are taking a coordinated approach that spans the University and Medical Center to address the current changes and the ongoing uncertainty. Wake Forest’s Office of Government Affairs is leading a steering committee to assess the potential impacts and coordinate institutional actions. We are actively engaging with experts, partnering with legislators, and collaborating with our higher education peers. Many of our higher education associations are key assets in these efforts. And, while our external partnerships are crucial, our most significant strength is right here, within our community: the undeniable impact of the work each Wake Forester does every day.

Wake Forest has faced uncertainty in its past, and we are resilient, innovative and collaborative. We know how to adjust to evolving realities to prepare for whatever comes next. I am confident Wake Forest will uphold our commitments to each other and our academic mission of teaching and scholarship. I encourage you to review the resources collected on this website and reach out as needed with any questions. As Provost Gillespie wrote in a message to faculty last week, we will be steadfast in our support of all our students, faculty, and staff. 

These dual commitments to mission and people are always on my mind, and never more so than this week with our annual Founders Day celebration. Traditions help mark the passage of time, celebrate important milestones, and remind us of what we care about and value most; traditions like Hit the Bricks, Lovefeast, and The World Cultural Festival. My favorite Wake Forest traditions, like Founders Day, are those rooted in how the late Provost Emeritus Ed Wilson described his alma mater: “friendliness and honor.” Our values bring us together in ways that are bigger than our individual selves and celebrate our collective humanity and pursuit of a flourishing society.

Reflecting on the significance of Wake Forest’s founding in 1834 and the many founders who have contributed to the University we love today, I return to the idea that we are all founders for the future. Wake Forest is continually experiencing founding moments that shape the fabric of this community and reaffirm our role as catalysts for good.  

Each of us has daily opportunities to add to our rich traditions and to consider how Wake Forest can be both resilient and adaptable in the face of change. In this moment, we are called to strengthen our commitment to our mission, to one another and to humanity. Thank you for embracing these commitments, and for all you do to make Wake Forest such a special community. I hope to see you at the Founders Day event.