University Photographer Ken Bennett to retire on March 31

March 7, 2024

After serving as Wake Forest’s University photographer for nearly three decades, Ken Bennett will retire at the end of March.

Bennett joined Wake Forest in January 1997 as staff photographer, and for 27 years, he has captured University life through images. He will retire from the position of director of photography.

“I’ve been extraordinarily lucky to have spent the last quarter century as the Wake Forest photographer, documenting our amazing students and faculty and our beautiful campus,” Bennett said. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with highly talented colleagues in Communications and External Relations (CER), University Advancement and across the University. The community here is unlike anywhere else, and so many of my colleagues have become friends. I will miss that community most of all.”

The University community is invited to attend Bennett’s retirement party on Wednesday, March 20, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the Green Room on the first floor of Reynolda Hall. Remarks will begin at 4:30 p.m. Please RSVP by Friday, March 15.

Bennett’s wide range of responsibilities has produced an incredibly diverse portfolio of work and a photo archive of nearly 200,000 images. He handles photography for the offices of Admissions, University Advancement and Campus Life, covers major annual events like commencement and homecoming, and provides photos for Wake Forest Magazine and other University publications. He is also a thinking partner who works closely with designers on the creative team and news writers in CER.

Beyond assigned projects, Bennett dedicates many hours at dawn and dusk to capturing scenes across campus in perfect light. His stunning photos are largely responsible for Wake Forest’s recognition as having one of the nation’s most beautiful college campuses.

It is demanding work with an often-grueling schedule, but Bennett is a master storyteller whose love for Wake Forest shows in his brilliant photos, boundless energy and positive attitude. In 2015, he was named Wake Forest’s Employee of the Year for showing “profound initiative and unwavering determination” to capture compelling images of the Wake Forest community. “Don’t tell anybody, but it’s the best job on campus,” Bennett said.

In addition to earning numerous awards for his photos, Bennett has received professional recognition from his peers. In 2013, he was named Master of the Profession by the University Photographers’ Association of America. He was also selected as 2014 University Photographer of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

From year to year, he manages to keep his work fresh. “Ken has the distinct ability to continue to innovate his photography in a contained environment,” said Hayes Henderson, CER’s creative director. “That creativity shines the way for others and encourages them to do the same – to challenge themselves to go deeper in their art as well as their environment.”

Bennett phased his retirement over two years, and he was instrumental in the search for a new University photographer. Following a competitive selection process, associate director of photography Lyndsie Schlink joined University staff in September 2022.

Before coming to Wake Forest, Bennett spent 10 years as a freelance photojournalist in Richmond, Virginia. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of William & Mary. An avid outdoorsman, he plans to spend his retirement hiking, birding, playing fiddle and exploring nature with his wife, Nora Ann.