Speeches Archive

It is wonderful to be with you today on this most exciting occasion – and I want to extend a special welcome to your friends, your families, and all of our guests to Wake Forest University.

Good afternoon, and welcome to our annual Wake Forest Founders Day ceremony.  Each year, we come together as a community to celebrate the founding of Wake Forest College, in February of 1834. This year, 2025, marks 191 years of Wake Forest!  Many universities celebrate the […]

Presidential Address; Nov. 14, 2024 Good afternoon! Thank you, Saylor and Wyatt, for your opening comments and introduction. And thank you to the Demon Divas for that beautiful rendition of the alma mater!  I also want to thank those who contributed to our donation drive […]

Good afternoon! And thank you, Chaplain Donald.  Like all of you, our University Chaplain is new to Wake Forest, too! Let’s welcome Chaplain Donald!  And, I want to welcome all of you to this building, Wait Chapel — a place where so many special traditions […]

It is wonderful to be with you today on this most exciting occasion – and I want to extend a special welcome to your friends, your families, and all of our guests to Wake Forest University.

Delivered in Wait Chapel on Feb. 15, 2024. Remarks as prepared. Good afternoon, and welcome to Wake Forest’s annual Founders Day ceremony.  There are so few dates on our calendar that bring this many cross-sections of our university community together — students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends […]

[Delivered Thursday, Nov. 16; Remarks as prepared]  Good afternoon!  Please join me in a round of applause for our musicians and singers.  Stephanie, thank you so much for opening our program. I appreciate your leadership and service as president of the Staff Advisory Council.  And, […]

Please join me in thanking your families and friends – both for the role they played in getting you here and for being here to celebrate you and lift up the Class of 2023.

Delivered in Wait Chapel on Feb. 16, 2023. Remarks as prepared. View Full Video Welcome, everyone. It is wonderful to be with you to celebrate Wake Forest’s 2023 Founders Day. We are especially humbled by the attendance of Provost Emeritus Dr. Ed Wilson, and […]

Good afternoon! Thank you Professor Banks for that kind introduction and for your leadership as President of the Faculty Senate. And my appreciation also to the Faculty Senate for co-hosting this event, and the Demon Divas for your welcoming performance. Finally, my thanks to all of you for joining me on this Thursday before Thanksgiving. We have much to reflect upon and much to be thankful for.