The Staff Advisory Council (SAC) is pleased to announce the results of the 2013 election. Please congratulate the seven new SAC representatives from across the university staff: Shana Atkins (Advancement), Shannon Badgett (Budget and Finance Planning), David Carlson (FACS: Warehouse), Matt Clifford (Residence Life and Housing), Susan Edwards (Office of Research and Sponsored Programs), Christy Hill (FACS: Project Management), and Kim Thore (University Stores).

In addition to newly-elected representatives, Karen Frekko (Schools of Business) and Jennifer Killingsworth (Financial & Accounting Services) have been re-elected to serve an additional term. Each SAC representative will serve a term of three years and may be re-elected to serve one additional term.

The SAC received nominations from March 1-22 and held the election from April 8 – April 22.  The SAC received a total of 26 unique nominations across the six staff divisions. The overall staff voting participation rate was 36 percent (566 of 1,560 eligible voters). Two divisions, Athletics and Other, did not have any open SAC positions and therefore did not participate in the 2013 election. Click here for a list of SAC divisions.

The SAC would like to thank the representatives whose terms are ending this year: Cathy Chinlund, Debbie Deheck, Teresa Earl, Tomma Guastaferro, Melvin Lee and Donna Thornton.

For more information about the SAC, please visit:  http://sac.wfu.edu

Wake Forest soon will embark on its next big step in revitalizing Hearn Plaza, following recent improvements that brought a much larger Subway and convenience store to the area.

Preliminary work will begin soon on converting a portion of Poteat Residence Hall into a new dining area that may appear similar to a traditional pub. With some modern, loft-style touches, the dining spot will serve pizza, wings and salads and be appointed with comfortable seating, pool tables, televisions and more. Diagrams and renderings of this new social venue will soon be on display in the Benson Center.

The area set for renovation is now occupied by the campus post office and related package-shipping area below the post office. Initial preparations for the renovation begin within the next month. The new venue will open when the fall 2013 semester begins.

This summer, the post office and package service will move to a new home in Benson University Center. Postal and shipping services now offered in the Poteat Residence Hall space will continue in the first floor of the Benson Center. Until last summer, Residence Life and Housing and Deacon One Card offices were located there.

Decisions on how to use the Poteat and Benson spaces were made after the Office of Campus Life and Leadership sought considerable student input about their interests and preferences.  Forums to garner student input were held, too.

Ken Zick, vice president and dean for student affairs, would like to thank all who have contributed to making this possible: the students who have contributed their ideas and vision to this initiative; the staff who have devoted much time and energy to this collaborative effort; and the University offices that have moved from one place to another in recent times to make room for more student-centered places on campus.

See a list of employment milestones reached by staff in February 2013:

1 year
Sara Rachel Chaney; Financial Assistant; Residence Life & Housing

Mitchell Cameron Currin; Asst Director, Member Services; Athletics

Michael Ray Dellinger; Turf Technician I; Athletics

Jeffrey Mark Hucks; Sr. HRIS Analyst; Human Resources

Andrew Michael Imboden; Coordinator of Housing; Residence Life & Housing

Derrick Todd Jackson; Assistant Coach, Football; Athletics

Vito Michael LaBruzzo; Ticket Sales Consultant; Athletics

Linda Fay Lyons; Parking Enforcement Officer; Facilities & Campus Services

Melissa Marie Ryon; Administrative Assistant; Office of Personal & Career Development

Justin E Sizemore; Environmental Hlth & Sfty Tech; Facilities & Campus Services

Scott Allen Smith; Police Officer; University Police

Darrell Alan Southern; Ticket Sales Consultant; Athletics

Terri Lynne Sparks; Administrative Assistant; Sociology

Sharonna Ethel Taylor; Academic Counselor; Dean of Wake Forest College

5 years
Kenneth A. Basch; Exec. Director; Real Estate

Tara Marie Brown; Director of Administrative Ops; Schools of Business

Monique Shanee Clark; Break Attendant; Graylyn

Angela Ammons Culler; Asst VP, HR Services; Human Resources

Pendred Keller Dietz; Dir, Off. of VP Univ Advancmnt; Advancement

Stephen W. Fisenne; Associate Director, EHS; Facilities & Campus Services

Billy B. Goff; Lead Transportation Assistant; Graylyn

Tamara Christina Hampton; Administrative Assistant; Schools of Business

Brian K. Knorr; Assistant Coach, Football; Athletics

Debra Denise Lane; Custodian; Facilities & Campus Services

David Wayne Moser; Maintenance Technician; Graylyn

Notori D. Patterson; Housekeeper; Graylyn

Kimberly Kay Urquhart; Assistant Manager, Deacon Shop; Stores

10 years
Jason B. Bennett; Warehouse Merchandise Asst; Stores

Thomas Williams Elrod; Assistant Coach, Football; Athletics

John Charles Noble; Guest Services Manager; Graylyn

15 years
Kamil Burak Ucer; Research Associate Professor; Physics

20 years
Hazel J. Daniels; Custodian; Facilities & Campus Services

Wake Forest has appointed Dr. Penny Rue as vice president for campus life. Rue, who currently serves as vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego), is nationally known for her creative leadership in strengthening campus communities.

Rue will oversee most facets of student life with broad responsibility for the well-being and safety of students and their engagement outside the classroom. The departments she will supervise include: Residence Life and Housing, Student Services, Campus Life, Campus Recreation, Student Health Service, the Office of the Chaplain and University Police.

She will assume her new duties mid-July.

Read more about Rue in the Wake Forest News Center »

Dear Colleagues,

In keeping with a broader Wake Forest security initiative, the Deacon OneCard office, a division of Residence Life and Housing, has been charged with oversight responsibility for physical security technology, including the selection, purchase, installation, maintenance and operation of card readers, cameras, and alarm devices.

Offices with upcoming physical security technology projects or needs should contact James Byrd in the Deacon OneCard office.  James will also be contacting appropriate offices directly to discuss steps that would better integrate those offices’ existing physical security technology with more extensive technology systems on campus.

Deacon OneCard will be advised by a team that includes Donna McGalliard, dean of Residence Life and Housing; Nancy Crouch, deputy chief information officer, Information Systems; Joel Garmon, director of information security, Legal; Regina Lawson, police chief; and Dina Marty, counsel, Legal.  James Byrd will serve as team leader.

We are confident that this central oversight approach will improve the functionality and compatibility of the Reynolda campus physical security technology and best safeguard the people, assets, and information at Wake Forest.  Your cooperation and assistance are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Rogan Kersh
Provost

Hof Milam
Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration

Al Hill, who worked at Wake Forest for more than 35 years, died on Dec. 24 at age 73.

Hill, who started work at WFU in 1972, served as an investigator, chief of police and director of public safety. He also worked for Residence Life & Housing in the Deacon OneCard office.

Read the Journal’s story about Hill »

Read Hill’s obituary and sign his guestbook »

Dear Wake Forest Community,

I hope your semester is off to a productive start. At the end of August, I was pleased to welcome the class of 2016 to campus, 79 percent of which graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Wake Forest continues to attract top-caliber students because we continue to provide an exceptional education. Our ability to meet and exceed our students’ expectations depends on our stewardship of University resources and our ability to pursue new and innovative ways to fulfill the University’s mission.

Last May, I sent you an email sharing my intent to implement a University-wide Strategic Resource Initiative. Provost Rogan Kersh and Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Hof Milam will lead a steering committee charged with assessing opportunities to capture funds through greater efficiency, collaboration and practical solutions. The ultimate goal of the committee is to identify funds that will allow us to continue progress on our most important strategic priorities, including student financial aid and competitive compensation for faculty and staff.

I am grateful to the faculty members, deans and administrators on the Strategic Resource Initiative Steering Committee for volunteering the time and considerable energy it will take to meet our goals. To be successful it will be important that we all respect the confidential nature of the deliberations to take place. The following people have agreed to serve on the steering committee: Continue reading »

The Wake Forest Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) won four state-wide awards through the North Carolina Association of Residence Halls (NCARH) during the month of May.

Wake Forest winners were:

Graduate Hall Director — Molly Brummett
Excerpts from her nomination: Molly Brummett … is always available for her staff and residents. She runs conductive weekly meetings, clearly articulates her expectations for her staff, and is important in program planning. … Molly is an organized and effective hall director. … She is a critical part of the staff of Palmer/Piccolo.

Resident Assistant — Andrew Ellis
Excerpts from his nomination: Andrew Ellis really took the lead on one of our most successful hall-wide programs of the year (the Cookout). … Andrew not only volunteered for tasks above and beyond his share, but also personally ensured that every detail was addressed. … Even when we had grill problems, his positive attitude and creative problem-solving skills were indefatigable until it was resolved. Truly, this social community-building program would not have been half as successful without Andrew’s leadership.

Spotlight — WFU Facilities Team
Excerpts from the nomination: A heating malfunction set off fire sprinklers in the Taylor Hall Lounge. Carpets and furniture were drenched with the water that could be seen coming out from the doors to the lounge. Not only is our lounge functioning again, but carpeting was replaced within a week. There was little resident concern because the people who work for facilities were seen inside making our community a nice place to live. … Overall, facilities did a fantastic job restoring the Taylor lounge.

Community Service — WFU & St. Baldricks
Excerpts from the nomination: St. Baldricks is a non-profit foundation which encourages volunteers to shave their heads in solidarity with children who have cancer. They are sponsored by family and friends, raising money towards research for pediatric cancer. The program invited Wake Forest students to shave their heads. A pediatric oncologist from Wake Forest Baptist Health, who spoke about the foundation. Wake Radio played music at the event.

Residence Life and Housing will relocate from Room 101 of the Benson University Center  to Room 104 of the University Services Building on Carroll Weathers Drive.

The department will move its operations in two phases: The first phase will take place on July 19 and 20, with the exception of the Deacon OneCard Office.  The Deacon OneCard office will move on Aug. 6 and 7. Residence Life and Housing will be open for business on Monday, July 23 at 8:30 a.m.

“Residence Life and Housing is committed to serving the total educational experience of students by providing a climate for the exchange of ideas, an atmosphere for broadening intellectual experiences, and a comfortable setting,” said Donna McGalliard, Dean of Residence Life and Housing. “We will continue to focus on offering our student body exceptional service, whether in person, by phone, or through our enhanced website and online offerings.”

Residence Life and Housing can be reached at 336.758.5185 or housing@wfu.edu. The Residence Life and Housing website is http://rlh.wfu.edu.

Donna McGalliard, the dean of Residence Life and Housing, has been selected to serve as faculty for this year’s National Housing Training Institute (NHTI), being held at the University of Georgia, June 12-16, in Athens, Ga.

The James C. Grimm National Housing Training Institute provides a thorough professional development experience for less-experienced professionals looking to further their career in housing. Participants meet and interact with other colleagues, establish mentor relationships with experts in the field, develop professional development plans, and gain skills and competencies needed to meet the current and future demands of the profession. The institute recognizes the importance of the evolving housing field, and it strives to provide participants with the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful in the ever-changing field.

McGalliard joined Wake Forest in 2000 as associate director of residence life.