A message from President Wente

Dear Wake Forest students, staff, and faculty:

I want to thank Dr. José Villalba for his leadership and 14 years of dedication and service to Wake Forest as a student-centered administrator and dedicated teacher-scholar in the Counseling department. I am pleased to share that Dr. Villalba has accepted my invitation to serve as Vice President and Special Advisor to the President. Reporting directly to me and serving on the Cabinet, Dr. Villalba will provide strategic guidance on matters related to campus climate and community building in support of our motto Pro Humanitate. Dr. Villalba brings a wealth of Wake Forest administrative and faculty experience to this advisory role. 

Working with Associate Vice President Dr. Malika Roman Isler, Vice President and Chief HR Officer Mary Lucal, Vice President for Campus Life Shea Kidd-Brown, and other leaders, Dr. Villalba will engage partners across campus to develop an implementation plan to achieve the goals identified from the 2024 campus climate evaluation. I am grateful to Dr. Villalba for his leadership of this important work. 

As we move forward, I remain deeply committed to demonstrating care for all Wake Foresters and fostering a community where every member is supported and empowered to be successful here. I am optimistic about the possibilities that lie ahead to build upon the shared values and aspirations of our community as we continue to strengthen our University together. 

Sincerely,

Susan R. Wente, Ph.D.
President