WFU soliciting Commencement speaker nominations

Dear Wake Forest community:

As members of the Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee, we look forward to engaging our graduating students and other members of the university community in the selection process of our 2014 Commencement speaker. As we begin this exciting task, we look to you to provide us with speaker nominations for Commencement 2014.

Please submit your suggestions to CSAC@wfu.edu by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25.  Submissions must include:

• Name of nominee
• Two to three paragraphs answering the following question: “Why do you think this person would be an exceptional Commencement speaker at Wake Forest University?”
• Any contact name(s) for your nomination (if possible) and/or any connection to Wake Forest.

We are especially interested in hearing from graduating students. Suggestions are also gratefully welcomed from faculty and staff.

As you can imagine, persons of this caliber are in high demand. While we hope to host a speaker from suggestions we receive, we cannot guarantee that our invitations will be accepted.  Your thoughts will be vital to informing our approach and to selecting a speaker.

This committee is dedicated to the transparency of this process, but please understand that the actual invitation process must remain confidential. Announcement of the Class of 2014’s commencement speaker will follow a similar timeline as in years past.

We look forward to reviewing your nominations.

Sincerely,
The Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee

Rogan Kersh, Provost, Chair
Francie Fisher, Wake Forest Fellow, Provost’s Office
Mary Foskett, Professor, Religion
Jim O’Connell, Wake Forest Fellow, President’s Office
Samantha Perrotta, Event and Project Manager, Provost’s Office
Aubrey Peterson, President, Student Union
Mary Pugel, Chief of Staff, President’s Office
Jennifer Richwine, Assistant Vice President, University Events
Jay Sehgal, Student Trustee
Jacqueline Sutherland, Student Government President
Mark Welker, Professor, Chemistry