Board of Trustees announces officers and new and returning members

The members of the Board of Trustees of Wake Forest University are pleased to announce its next class of Trustees and Officers, for the term beginning July 1, 2025.

2025 – 2026 Board Officers

Chair: Jeanne Whitman Bobbitt (’79, MBA ’87) (Dallas, Texas) works with nonprofits in the areas of strategy, leadership transition and resource identification. She served as vice president for development and external affairs at Southern Methodist University and head of the Hockaday School in Dallas, after beginning her professional career at Wake Forest University.

Vice Chair: Mrs. Cantey M. (Candy) Ergen (P ’12, P ’17) (Littleton, CO) is co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of EchoStar, a telecommunications company. Candy also serves on the Leadership and Character Council, which supports the Leadership and Character program at Wake Forest. 

Vice Chair: Curtis (Curt) Chatman Farmer (’84, MBA ’91, P ’16, P ’17) (Dallas, Texas) is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Comerica Incorporated and Comerica Bank. He joined Comerica in 2008 following a 24-year career with Wachovia Bank where he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibilities in Retail Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management. His most recent role at Wachovia was executive vice president and wealth management director for the Southeast.

Treasurer: Dr. Jacqueline A. Travisano

Secretary: Dr. Paula Gentius

Assistant Secretary: Ms. Molly Field

Returning members elected to a new term include:

Mr. H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. (P ’17, P ’19, P ’23), McLean, VA

Ms. Serena Fisher Dugan (’94), Sausalito, CA

Mrs. Mary R. Farrell (P ’10), Summit, NJ

Mr. Donald E. Flow (MBA ’83), Winston-Salem, NC

Mr. John M. McAvoy (’82, P ’12, P ’17), Kiawah Island, SC

Mr. Robert J. McCreary, Charlotte, NC

Mr. James M. O’Connell (’13), Brooklyn, NY

Mr. Ogden Phipps II (’00), Locust Valley, NY

Cathy Wall Thomas, M.D. (’80, P ’11, P ’13), Carrboro, NC

Mr. David I. Wahrhaftig (MBA ’82, P ’18, P ’21, P ’21), Larchmont, NY

Student Trustee:

Ms. Alexandria Smith, a Politics and International Affairs and Sociology double-major from Bedford, NY, was elected as student trustee for 2025-2026.

Life Trustees:

Mr. Bobby R. Burchfield (’76), McLean, VA

Mr. David W. Dupree (MBA ’78, P ’20, P ’22), Washington, DC

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A complete list of Trustees currently serving on the Board can be found here.