A message from President Hatch

Dear Wake Forest community,

Last week, our nation was captivated by Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old poet, who shared a poem at the inauguration of President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. For six minutes, millions listened as she spoke powerful words of inspiration and aspiration, of courage, strength and beauty. Afterward, many took to social media to commend, congratulate and thank her for offering hope for the future through her art and voice.

When a reporter asked her how she went about writing the poem, she shared that she spent weeks diving into literature and studying orators — including our former faculty member Maya Angelou. The amount of study, reflection and personal experience injected into her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” was obvious in its references and ultimate power and was lauded by those who recognize that hard work and resilience often runs in tandem with talent.

The hope Amanda Gorman infused in our country came from a depth of character, quest for wisdom and faith in the human spirit; it is the same hope that I see in the Wake Forest community. Forged in the fire of these unprecedented times, we have shown that our community will thrive beyond the challenges of today. With creativity and ingenuity, we will find solutions that we can’t yet imagine. With compassion and empathy, we will inspire one another to find common ground rooted in a place of goodwill.

Higher education is about nurturing potential; it is about living out the promise of what could be; and it is about investing in those who will guide our future. Acquiring knowledge and refining skills is one piece of education; the other is cultivating a sense of purpose, a desire to serve others and an understanding that the world is in need of the very gifts that you possess.

As we begin a new semester, know that you are here at Wake Forest because our future needs leaders with a depth of understanding and the aspiration to improve our communities. Our staff and faculty have invested their careers in that mission, and our students are preparing today for the journey that is yet to come. As all of us continue to live out our own stories, let us go forth as beacons of hope, knowing that, as Frederick Buechner wrote, “your purpose is where your greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need.”

This semester will once again require the full commitment of this community to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Because of your vigilance in adhering to public health guidelines and attention to safe practices, we were able to complete our fall semester on campus. The same challenge faces us this spring, and the same dedication to helping protect our friends and neighbors will be necessary. Thank you for actively doing your part in working to keep our campus healthy and safe.

I am deeply grateful to the faculty and staff who have worked diligently, despite all the challenges of the moment, to prepare courses, sustain research and creative works, and make our campus safe and engaging.

It is a pleasure to welcome you home to Wake Forest. You have reawakened our campus and brought life back to this community. May this spring be a rich and expansive time – despite the necessary restrictions that the COVID-19 virus still imposes upon our community. As you reconnect with one another and settle into your daily routine, please stay healthy and safe.

With gratitude,

Nathan O. Hatch
President