Gillespie begins as Provost; Ranft takes over as Dean of the School of Business

On July 1, Michele Gillespie began her new role as University Provost, and Annette Ranft became Dean of the School of Business.

Since arriving at Wake Forest in 1999, Gillespie has established herself as a respected teacher-scholar and administrator. She has served as the Dean of the College since 2015. She previously served as associate provost for academic initiatives from 2007 to 2010.

“Dr. Gillespie has earned great respect for her ability to balance academic rigor with holistic learning and community engagement,” said President Susan R. Wente in the March announcement of Gillespie’s appointment.

Senior Associate Dean Anthony Marsh began serving as Interim Dean of the College on July 1.

Ranft will oversee Wake Forest’s nationally recognized School of Business with its highly ranked undergraduate business programs, master’s degree programs and non-degree programs.

“Wake Forest University’s School of Business has a unique opportunity to conduct meaningful research and to develop principled leaders for the future,” Ranft said when her appointment was announced in March. “Having served on the Wake Forest faculty early in my career, it is an honor to return to serve in the dean’s role at a place that had such a profound impact on my approach to teaching, research and academic leadership.”

Ranft previously served as Dean and Wells Fargo Professor at the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University. Before leading Auburn’s business school, Ranft was dean and Steve P. Zelnak, Jr. Chair at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management.