"English Department" Archive

Bob Lovett

February 18, 2020

This message was emailed to faculty and staff by the Office of Communications and External Relations on Feb. 18:

We are saddened to announce that Robert (Bob) Lovett, professor emeritus of English, died Feb. 16.

A memorial service will be held Feb. 29 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem.  A reception will follow at the church.  An obituary is in the Winston-Salem Journal today.

Dr. Lovett joined Wake Forest’s faculty in the 1960s.  He retired in 2001.

We grieve Dr. Lovett’s death and extend our condolences to his family and friends, as well as those at Wake Forest who had the opportunity to know him.

Wake Forest offers support and counseling services for all students, faculty and staff.  The Counseling Center may be reached at 336-758-5273, the Chaplain’s Office at 336-758-5210.  For faculty and staff, there is also the Employee Assistance Program at 336-716-5493.

Wake Forest Communications and External Relations

Franco awarded the new 'Palmer Professorship in Literature'

October 15, 2019

Dean Franco, Professor of English and Director of the Humanities Institute at Wake Forest University, has been awarded the new Winifred W. Palmer Professorship in Literature.

Arnold Palmer’s Trust funded the professorship in memory of Palmer’s late wife. Her passion for literature will be remembered through this generous gift.

Dean of the College Michele Gillespie chose Franco for his outstanding excellence within the English Department and his tireless pursuit of scholarship, mentorship and leadership.

“Dean Franco is a superb example of the consummate teacher-scholar at Wake Forest. He is a dedicated, demanding teacher; a senior scholar who has shaped his field of 20th century American Literature, and especially American Ethnic Studies; and deeply committed to the equity and wellbeing of our community and the broader community we live in,” Gillespie said.

Franco, who joined the English Department in 2001, has served in a variety of roles, including associate chair from 2010 to 2016. His third book, “The Border and the Line: Race, Literature, and Los Angeles,” was published in January; and he continues to draft, edit and peer review essays and journal submissions. He co-authored the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant for the Engaged Liberal Arts awarded in 2018. He serves as a noted scholar on panels and as a guest lecturer on topics involving race and literature. Most recently, he presented the lecture, “On Race, Scale and Literary History,” at Indiana University Oct. 10.

Inside the classroom, Franco devotes his attention to his students, from their first year through graduation. His first-year seminars on such topics as “Inauthentic, Abnormal and Queer: Social Values in Art, Literature and Film,” “The Sacred and Secular in Public Life,” and “Uncertainty” have expanded the worldview for incoming students and provided an introduction to the Pro Humanitate motto that all Wake Forest students strive to achieve. He continues to mentor and guide English majors through their intellectual pursuits while also serving as the founding director for the Jewish Studies minor that began in 2014. Franco also contributes to the campus community through his role as the director of the Humanities Institute, which establishes programs and provides funding for University faculty in the humanities and other fields of study engaging in humanistic inquiry and scholarship.

Jessica Richard, chair of the English department, calls Franco an invaluable colleague and an exceptional contributor to the department, College and University.

“In his most recent book, Dean Franco examines ‘how we all live in relational proximity to our neighbors,’ and his commitment to understanding what divides and unites us is also the bedrock of his work at Wake Forest,” Richard said. “From his role as a co-founder and current director of the Humanities Institute to his department leadership and his classroom teaching, Dean models how literary study enables us to connect across difference. We’re thrilled to see his nationally recognized scholarship and his outstanding campus leadership and teaching recognized with this professorship.”

Staff retirements in 2017-2018

June 6, 2018

The following Wake Forest staff (Reynolda Campus) retired in 2017-2018:

Donna Gung, Executive Assistant, Office of the President
Kathy Idol, Communications Coordinator and Counselor, Financial Aid
Terry Poovey, Admissions Assistant, Undergraduate Admissions
Preston Stockton, Manager, Reynolda Gardens
Lynn Sutton, Vice Provost, Office of the Provost
Connie Green, Administrative Coordinator, English
Pamela Karr, Training and Development Manager, Counseling
Patricia (Patty) Kennedy, Administrative Assistant, Health and Exercise Science
Patricia (Patty) Lanier, Administrative Coordinator, Office of the Dean of the College
Cindy O’Hagan, Coordinator, Curriculum Materials, Education
Judith (Judi) Affeldt, Administrative Assistant, School of Business
Patricia (Pat) Peacock, Associate Director, School of Business
Janet Cromer, Associate Director, School of Law
Ann Robertson, Program Coordinator, School of Law
Ronald (Ron) Atkins, Service Technician, Facilities and Campus Services
Winford Cook, Sanitation Coordinator, Facilities and Campus Services
Carrnell Covington, Custodian, Facilities and Campus Services
Hazel Daniels, Custodian, Facilities and Campus Services
Lester Ferrell, Custodian, Facilities and Campus Service
Rebecca Harrington, Maintenance and Utilities Analyst, Facilities and Campus Services
Annie (Ann) Knox, Parking Supervisor, Parking and Transportation
Ava Nelums, Custodian, Facilities and Campus Services
Julio Parada, Server, Graylyn
Raymond (Ray) Trindade, Auto Technician, Facilities and Campus Services
Diane Wise, Administrative Coordinator, Procurement Services
Michael (Mike) Ford, Director, Philanthropy Programs, Pro Humanitate Institute
Donalee White, Administrator Coordinator, Learning Assistance Center
Jane Jones, Administrative Coordinator, University Advancement
Nancy Pierce, Territory Development Coordinator, University Advancement
Cherin Poovey, Managing Editor, Wake Forest Magazine, University Advancement
Janet Williamson, Deputy Editor, University Advancement
Walter (Doug) Bland, Associate Athletic Director, Athletics
Dianne Dailey, Head Coach, Women’s Golf, Athletics
Anita (Ann) Flynn, Academic Counselor, Athletics
Ethan Reeve, Head Coordinator, Sports Performance, Athletics
Betty Shronts, Administrative Assistant, Athletics

Comings and goings for January 2017

February 23, 2017

See a list of employees joining and leaving the University in January 2017:

Read more

Update: Faculty promotions

August 4, 2016

This is an update to a previous announcement regarding faculty promotions:

Congratulations to Wake Forest University faculty who have received promotions, recently.

Promoted to full professor:

Miriam Ashley-Ross (Biology)
Michaelle Browers (Politics and International Affairs)
Judy Kem (Romance Languages)
Stephen Murphy (Romance Languages)

Promoted to associate professor:

Michael Anderson (Biology)
R. Jarrod Atchison (Communication)
Tina Boyer (German and Russian)
Hana Brown (Sociology)
Samuel Cho (Physics and Computer Science)
John Dalton (Economics)
Susan Harlan (English)
Sarah Mason (Mathematics and Statistics)
Gregory Parks (Law)
John Ruddiman (History)
Michael Sloan (Classical Languages)
Joel Tauber (Art)
Andrew Verstein (Law)
Christian Waugh (Psychology)
Heiko Wiggers (German and Russian)

Promoted to associate librarian:

Kyle Denlinger
Jeffrey M. Eller

Promoted to teaching professor:

Lynn Book (Theatre/Dance)
Angela King (Chemistry)
Kathryn Levy (Music)
Pat Lord (Biology)
Darlene May (Romance Languages)
Al Rives (Chemistry)

Promoted to associate teaching professor:

Jack Dostal (Physics)
David Hagy (Music)
Adam Kadlac (Philosophy)

Promoted to professor of the practice:

Justin Catanoso (English)
Yasuko Rallings (East Asian Languages)

Promoted to associate professor of the practice:

Brantly Shapiro (Theatre/Dance)