Wake Forest leads national conversation on experiential learning in business education

This summer, the Wake Forest University School of Business welcomed faculty and administrators from nearly every top-30 U.S. business school for the 2025 Leaders of Experiential Project-Based Education (LEPE) conference. Now in its 19th year, the annual gathering convenes higher education professionals committed to advancing experiential learning in business education.

This year’s conference focused on real-world learning outcomes, meaningful student and client impact, and the integration of emerging technologies like AI and VR in the classroom. Wake Forest faculty led sessions on course design, assurance of learning standards, and creative approaches to assessment—showcasing how the School of Business equips students not just with technical knowledge, but also with the character, purpose, and professionalism to thrive in client-facing roles.

Wake Forest was featured alongside peer institutions such as Stanford, MIT, Michigan, Kellogg, and Duke. The conference highlighted Wake Forest’s commitment to preparing students for meaningful work, elevating hands-on learning, and deepening partnerships with both community and industry. Presentations sparked robust discussion and positioned Wake Forest as a model for experiential education.

The event also marked a milestone for LEPE, which formalized this year as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Wake Forest’s Shannon McKeen, professor of the practice and executive director for the Center for Analytics Impact, was appointed as LEPE’s inaugural CEO. McKeen, Angie Lynde, senior associate director of experiential learning, and Norma Montague, associate professor of accounting and senior associate dean of academic programs, played key roles in planning and executing the event.