Wake Forest names Corey D.B. Walker Dean of the Divinity School

September 7, 2023

This message is sent on behalf of President Susan R. Wente and Provost Michele Gillespie.

Dear students, faculty and staff,

Following the completion of a national search, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Corey D.B. Walker has been named Dean of the Wake Forest University School of Divinity, effective immediately. 

Dr. Walker is a distinguished scholar of religion and Wake Forest Professor of Humanities and has served as interim dean for the school since January. He is an ordained American Baptist clergyperson who preaches and teaches in congregations and universities across the nation and has published broadly on African American religion and philosophy, African American history and culture, and religion and American public life. He was appointed a Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar for the 2023-2024 academic year. He has also been instrumental in the University’s Strategic Framework process, serving as Vice-Chair for the Core Planning Team.

Dean Walker joined the Wake Forest faculty in 2020 and established Wake Forest’s African American Studies Program. He will continue to serve as program director for the remainder of this academic year.  Additional details are posted on the Wake Forest News website.

We believe Dean Walker’s exceptional leadership qualities and unwavering commitment to our University make him the ideal choice to guide the Divinity School into its 25th year and beyond. He will undoubtedly shape a bright future for our school, community and the next generation of theological leaders. 

We are immensely grateful to members of the search committee, who provided valuable insights throughout this process.

Please join us in congratulating Dean Walker on his new role. We look forward to what the future holds under his leadership.