New lecture series honors the work of Professor Emeritus W. Jack Rejeski

The W. Jack Rejeski Distinguished Lecture Series was recently established to honor the extraordinary career and lasting impact of W. Jack Rejeski, professor emeritus in Health and Exercise Science. Over an impressive 46-year career, Rejeski built a legacy as an outstanding teacher-scholar, earning high praise from students and mentoring more than 80 undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows and interdisciplinary trainees. His commitment to education, mentorship, and collaboration helped shape generations of scholars and strengthened the academic community at Wake Forest and beyond.

Rejeski is also internationally recognized for his groundbreaking research in aging, physical activity, and behavioral medicine. With more than 300 peer-reviewed publications—including work in leading journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and The Lancet—and leadership on numerous federally funded research initiatives, his work has advanced scientific understanding of how exercise improves health and quality of life, particularly for older adults. His contributions to large-scale clinical trials and global collaborations reflect both the depth of his expertise and the far-reaching influence of his work.

This lecture series continues Rejeski’s legacy by bringing distinguished scholars to campus to share innovative, interdisciplinary research that addresses complex challenges in health, aging, and human performance. It serves as a platform to inspire learning, foster collaboration, and engage the broader community in meaningful dialogue—values that defined Rejeski’s career.

The inaugural W. Jack Rejeski Distinguished Lecture will take place on Thursday, April 2, at 3:30 p.m., in the Porter Byrum Welcome Center. Attendees will engage with cutting-edge research and celebrate the enduring legacy of Rejeski.

The series will welcome Paul Laurienti as the guest lecturer. Laurienti will present “Spatial Disorder in the Aging Brain,” offering insights into how aging affects brain organization and function.  He is the director of the Laboratory for Complex Brain Networks (LCBN), a multidisciplinary group with faculty, students and staff from departments across Wake Forest Baptist Health. Laurienti and Rejeski have been long-time collaborators, working together for many years on research exploring aging, health, and brain function—making his participation in this inaugural lecture especially meaningful.

The lecture is open to everyone—students, faculty, staff, and community members. Light refreshments will be provided following the lecture.