Top of page

Leading with character and integrity, for humanity

Character is forged in challenge, and integrity defines how we respond. Leading with character and integrity — especially at Wake Forest — means embracing what is distinctly human: community, creativity, and optimism. And my time as President of Wake Forest has only reinforced my belief […]

Categories: From Wente's Desk


Welcome to the 2025 fall semester

Dear Wake Forest community,  Happy new (school) year, Wake Forest! As we begin this semester together, our campus is once again alive with energy and possibility. Seeing our students and faculty head to classes today never fails to renew my spirit and remind me of […]

Categories: Emails


Walk with Wente: Lina Benabdallah

President Wente walks and talks with Lina Benabdallah about China’s rise as a superpower, its influence in Africa and what that means for international relations. Dr. Benabdallah challenges her students to think beyond stereotypes about Africa and says she likes to keep an “open door between research and teaching.”

Categories: Walk with Wente


A message from President Wente

Dear Wake Forest community:  With a sense of gratitude and optimism, I write today to share a personal decision. After considerable reflection, I have decided to conclude my presidency on June 30, 2026, at the end of my fifth year. Following a sabbatical, I plan […]

Categories: Emails


Walk with Wente: Ken Kishida, PhD

President Wente walks and talks with Dr. Kishida about how the brain works and his research focused on big questions about consciousness and choice. They discuss his collaborations with both neurosurgeons and humanities faculty… and his love for the movie The Matrix.

Categories: Walk with Wente


New Student Convocation, 2025

Class of 2029 – welcome to university life! Welcome to Wake Forest! As a Wake Forest student you will learn, you will grow, you will be challenged and I have every confidence that you will be successful and thrive.  There are exactly TWO times in […]

Categories: Speeches


Investing for strategic impact 

August is here, and a distinct energy is again stirring on campus as we launch a new academic year. This sense of anticipation for all that is possible at the beginning of each semester at Wake Forest is unmistakable.  As we venture into this new […]

Categories: From Wente's Desk


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. […]

Categories: Emails


A message from President Wente

Dear campus community,  I am pleased to announce that Nell Jessup Newton, Professor Emerita of Law at the University of Notre Dame Law School, has agreed to serve as interim Provost for Wake Forest University, effective August 1. Professor Newton served with distinction as Wake […]

Categories: Emails


Stay in Touch

Follow or Mention

View recent posts »

Share a Message

Fill out this form to send a message to President Wente.

Subscribe

Receive the “From Wente’s Desk” blog posts in your inbox.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Archives