From Wente’s Desk

As the days get shorter, colder, and darker, our natural tendency as humans is to seek warmth, light, and comfort in the company of others.  Our impulse to gather and to light up the darkness is on full display during this festive season at Wake […]

At Wake Forest, our motto invites each of us to stand with and for humanity. Whether through research, teaching, community service, or institutional initiatives, how we respond to this call shows up in countless ways on campus — and makes me proud to lead this […]

(Updated Oct. 16, 2023)Whether in times of joy, trepidation, or sorrow, people – students, alumni, parents, community members, and others – look to trusted institutions like universities to demonstrate care, reason, ethical leadership, and a measure of stability when crises threaten to destabilize us. At […]

Last spring with commencement weekend on the horizon, I had lunch with a group of students that included graduating seniors. I asked the seniors to reflect on their time at Wake Forest and what they believed makes Wake Forest distinctive.  All of them paused and […]

Across time and around the globe, some of the world’s most influential thinkers and writers in history emphasize a timeless notion: being true to oneself.  Ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus is often credited with the phrase, “Know thyself,” which was found inscribed on the […]

During last month’s commencement festivities, Larry Culp, the chairman and CEO of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace, called on our School of Business graduates to “constantly look to learn and improve and grow … substantively, in ways that really matter.” In the classroom, […]

As one of our most beloved Wake Foresters Dr. Maya Angelou once said, “Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.” As I reflected last month, perhaps nowhere is this more true than within the confines of our academic community. The predictable, even […]

One of my favorite things about being part of a higher education community is the reliable rhythm of an academic year. The multiple beginnings, of the semesters and year as a whole, provide opportunities for excitement and starting anew. The multiple endings, likewise, bring opportunities […]

I find the nature of life at the cellular level fascinating. Though microscopic, individual cells are incredibly complex, they retain sophisticated mechanisms for staying the course and doing the particular work they are designed to do. Even in the most difficult circumstances, cells constantly adapt […]

There is something magical about springtime on a University campus. After the sometimes dark and cold of January and February, the days start to get longer, flowers and trees begin to bloom, and our community takes the rhythms of campus life outdoors. On an unseasonably […]