Memorable Moments
Dr. Susan R. Wente
Memorable Moments
Face to Face Speaker Forum
Susan Wente greets NBA All-Star, philanthropist, entrepreneur and Wake Forest basketball legend Chris Paul during the Face to Face Speaker Forum at the LJVM Coliseum on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Wake the Demons
President Susan R. Wente offers remarks during the Wake the Demons pep rally on Hearn Plaza in front of Wait Chapel on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
New Student Convocation
President Susan R. Wente provides remarks during New Student Convocation on Friday, August 22, 2025.
Flow House Anniversary
President Susan Wente gives remarks at a dinner for Flow House alumni, faculty, and University leadership held at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Guests enjoyed a festive evening as part of the Flow House anniversary celebration on Friday, May 30, 2025.
Commencement Ceremony
Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente welcomes attendees and offers remarks to the graduating class of 2025 at the Commencement Ceremony on Hearn Plaza on Monday, May 19, 2025.
Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner
President Wente applauds at the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner on Friday, April 25 in the Sutton Center at Wake Forest University. The 2025 honorees are Syd Kitson (’81) and Barbee Oakes (’80, MA ’81).
Student Government Executive Team Installment
President Wente addresses Wake Forest University senior leadership and students at the Student Government Executive Team Installment at her home on Monday, April 21, 2025.
Walk With Wente
Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente talks with Professor Ken Kishida, Translational Neuroscience at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, on Long Branch Trail adjacent to Wake Downtown on Friday, March 28, 2025 for an upcoming episode of Walk With Wente.
Founders Day
President Susan R. Wente presents Don Flow (MBA ’83) with the Medallion of Merit at Founders Day at Wait Chapel on Thursday, February 20, 2025
Wednesdays with Wente
President Wente talks with colleagues during a Wednesdays with Wente lunch. These informal conversations enable small groups of faculty and staff to connect with President Wente and each other on a range of topics.
’24
Lovefeast
President Susan Wente and Dr. Chris Hardy attend Lovefeast at Wait Chapel on Sunday, December 8, 2024. The event brings members of the Winston-Salem community together with Wake Forest University students, staff, students, and alums.
Pitsgiving
President Susan R. Wente visits with students during a Thanksgiving style meal at The Pit on Thursday, November 21, 2024 as part of Pitsgiving.
Presidential Address
Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente delivers the President’s Address at Brendle Recital Hall in the Scales Fine Arts Center on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
Project Pumkin
President Wente plays games on the Quad at the 37th annual Project Pumpkin, a volunteer service Halloween event, for local school children, on Hearn Plaza on Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Reynolda Gardens Renovation
Winston-Salem Mayor J. Allen Joines, Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente, Malcolm Brown, Patricia Brown, Director of Reynolda Gardens Jon Roethling, and Executive Director, Reynolda House; WFU Associate Provost for Reynolda House & Reynolda Gardens, Allison Perkins cut the ribbon of the newly restored Brown Family Conservatory at Reynolda Gardens on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
Hit The Bricks
Wake Forest University faculty, staff, alumni, and students participate in Hit the Bricks on Hearn Plaza on Thursday, September 26, 2024 to raise money for the Brian Piccolo Research Fund. President Susan Wente joins student leaders for the opening lap.
Wake the Demons
President Wente fires up the crowd during the pep rally.
KinderCare opens
at WFU
President Wente helps cut the ceremonial ribbon. Read more about the project.
‘Renew and Refresh’
President Wente tours space impacted by an ambitious renovation project for academic and classroom spaces on the Reynolda campus.
Convocation
President Wente delivers her remarks to the crowd at Convocation in Wait Chapel on Aug. 23, 2024.
Move-In Day
President Wente greets members of the Class of 2028 as they arrive on campus for the start of the 2024-25 academic year.
Staff Appreciation Picnic
President Wente talks with colleagues during the annual Staff Appreciation Picnic in the Sutton Center on May 30, 2024.
Commencement Ceremony
President Wente congratulated graduates at Commencement on May 20, 2024, telling them in her address: “Do not forget, you have each shaped Wake Forest and the Wake Forest experience for others, too. Your class will always be distinctive in our college’s history.”
President’s Ball
President Wente dances with the more than 1,000 guests at the biennial President’s Ball on April 12, 2024, at the Joel Coliseum.
Remembering Ed Wilson
Founders Day
President Wente addresses the crowd during the annual Founders Day event.
‘Framing Our Future’
President Wente addresses Wake Forest University leadership, staff, alumni, and friends attending the ‘Framing Our Future’ event in Greensboro.
Lovefeast
President Wente watches her candle get lit during the traditional Lovefeast ceremony. See her 2023 holiday greetings, and see the Lovefeast photostory below.
’23
Lighting of the Quad
President Wente joins students during the annual Lighting of the Quad ceremony.
Presidential Address
On Nov. 16, 2023, President Wente delivered her presidential address.
Walk with Wente
President Wente kicked off a new video series in September of 2023 by walking and talking with associate professor Kristen Beavers. Find out more about the Walk with Wente series.
Move-in day
President Wente greets members of the Class of 2027 as they arrive on campus for the start of the 2023-24 academic year.
McCreary Football Complex Dedication
President Wente takes part in the ribbon cutting as part of the dedication of the McCreary Football Complex. See the photo story, and learn more about McCreary’s history gift.
Commencement
President Wente congratulated graduates at Commencement on May 15, 2023, telling them in her address: “My message for you is simple. … Actually, I only have three words that I want you to carry from this moment and take out into the world: You are ready.” Relive the 2023 Commencement here.
Distinguished Alumni Awards
President Wente welcomed guests to the annual Distinguished Alumni Award dinner in the Sutton Center.
Face to Face Speaker Kristin Chenoweth
Wake Forest’s speaker series brings important thinkers to campus to engage students and the community. President Wente and Wake Forest Fellow Molly Olson met with Kristin Chenoweth before this event in April 2023.
Rajmohan Gandhi’s visit to WFU
Face to Face Speaker
Bryan Stevenson
Founders Day
President Wente presents Reid Morgan (’75, JD ’79) with the Medallion of Meri, the University’s highest honor.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
President Wente delivers remarks during the annual event honoring Martin Luther King. Wake Forest and Winston-Salem State have collaborated on the event for more than 20 years.
2022
Lovefeast
President Wente raises a candle during the Lovefeast ceremony, a hallowed Wake Forest tradition.
’22
Presidential Inauguration
Wake Forest celebrated the inauguration of the University’s 14th President, Susan R. Wente, on March 25, 2022.
Commencement
President Wente congratulated graduates at her first Wake Forest Commencement on May 16, 2022, telling them in her address: “You are entering a world that needs your expertise and knowledge, a world that craves your leadership and character.”
Presidential Address
On Nov. 17, 2022, President Wente delivered her presidential address.
2022
Homecoming
Party So Dear
President Wente waves to the crowd as Party So Dear kicks off at Homecoming 2022.
Face to Face Speaker
Jon Meachum
New Player Development Facilities
President Wente cheers as the dedication ceremony recognizes the principal donors for the Shah Basketball Complex, the Caryl Guth Women’s Clubhouse and the Paul Family Men’s Clubhouse.
Wake the Demons Pep Rally
President Wente arrives with the Demon Deacon on his motorcycle as campus rallies before the first football game of the 2022 season.
New Student Convocation
The Class of 2026 was officially welcomed into the Wake Forest family at New Student Convocation on Friday, August 19.
Move-In Day
President Wente greets members of the Class of 2026 as they arrive on campus for the start of the 2022-23 academic year.
Presidential Address
On November 19, 2021, Dr. Wente delivered her first presidential address as the 14th president of Wake Forest. In her remarks to a standing-room-only crowd, she shared about her journey of discovery, engagement, and initial observations.
’21
Hitting the Bricks
“It is truly an honor to experience one of Wake Forest’s finest traditions. Your gifts — the money you have raised, your support of those facing cancer and your commitment to seeing this through to a cure — are a remarkable testament to the spirit of Pro Humanitate that is alive on this campus,” said President Wente after her first “Hit the Bricks” event. The 2021 event, which raises money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, set new records for participants, the number of teams and total money raised.