DeLongpré Johnston named VP for human resources and sustainability
Wake Forest University has appointed Dedee DeLongpré Johnston as vice president for human resources and sustainability, effective October 1. In this role, she will lead the University’s talent functions, including recruitment, campus engagement, compensation and benefits, professional development, HR operations and HR information systems.
DeLongpré Johnston will continue to lead the Office of Sustainability as vice president and chief sustainability officer. She has served as interim chief human resources officer since April 2020.
“I cannot imagine a more difficult time to be a university human resources leader,” said Hof Milam, executive vice president, “but Dedee’s management style, organizational skills and knack for thinking broadly about the university have been the perfect complement to a talented, dedicated human resources team in seeing us through the last six months.”
For more than a decade, DeLongpré Johnston has led the first campus-wide Office of Sustainability. Under her leadership, the university earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). In her previous role as director of the University of Florida’s Office of Sustainability, she was awarded the President’s Medallion for her leadership. She brings more than 20 years of nonprofit management experience, from fund and board development to organizational strategy, change management and assessment.
“In addition to the privilege of leading a very talented HR team in their core functional areas, I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with stakeholders across campus to integrate the institution’s core values into the full employee experience and to explore the ways we can foster engagement and a true sense of belonging,” said DeLongpré Johnston. Read more
Categories: Faculty News, Inside WFU, Staff News, University Announcement
Reynolda Road crossing to enhance pedestrian safety
Construction is underway on a new Reynolda Road crossing, with expectations to wrap up at the end of August. A crosswalk 
and 10-foot wide landscaped median will be installed just north of Graylyn Court, which serves as an entry to both the Graylyn Estate and Reynolda House Museum of American Art. The median will provide pedestrian refuge and a dedicated left-turn lane onto the Reynolda House grounds. It will be mirrored by a second median, forming a left turn lane toward Graylyn. The crossing will connect users to wide gravel paths on either side of the road, leading to the local landmarks. Two solar-powered rapid flash beacons will use thermal detection and manual push buttons to alert drivers and cyclists to pedestrian crossings.
The Reynolda Road crossing is the latest in a series of safety improvements resulting from recommendations in the 2014 Bicycle, Pedestrian and Transit study. Guided by a stakeholder advisory group with representation from Wake Forest, the community and government entities, the report included infrastructure and policy recommendations to improve active transportation and transit choices between the Reynolda Campus and surrounding neighborhoods.
Neighbors and community stakeholders were invited to provide additional feedback about the Reynolda Road project last fall. “Stakeholder engagement is important to clearly understand the community’s support for the initiative and to learn from the end-users’ observations and experiences to improve the proposed design solutions,” said Rosalba Ledezma, senior advisor for facilities and campus services. “Support for the project and appreciation for the initiative to improve pedestrian safety were the clear messages received.”
The Polo Road pedestrian crossing zone is another safety improvement to come out of the advisory group’s 2014 report. Read more about Reynolda Road safety improvements on the Office of Sustainability website.
Categories: Faculty News, Inside WFU, Staff News
Vanpool offers alternative transportation option during Business 40 closure
This is a guest post from the University’s Office of Sustainability:
Business 40 is closing on Nov. 17. Are you ready? The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) and Wake Forest Transportation and Parking Services have joined forces to offer you the chance to try Vanpool – an alternative transportation option to make your commute easier and reduce congestion during the Business 40 closure.
How it Works
The PART Vanpool program is a cost-effective alternative to driving alone. In this program, PART leases 7- and 15-passenger vans to groups of five or more commuters who live near one another and want to share their commute to work. The month-to-month lease includes the vehicle, insurance, maintenance, gas and an emergency ride home. Vanpools have free and reserved parking on campus.
Questions? Check out the FAQ on the Transportation and Parking Services website.
Try Vanpool Before the Business 40 Closure
Ready to get started? CLICK HERE and tell us about your daily commute. We will work to establish Vanpool groups to and from Wake Forest. Employees interested in joining a Vanpool at Wake Forest are eligible to receive a discount on the first three months of Vanpool fares.
4 – 3 – 2 Vanpool Discount
1st Month (40% OFF)
2nd Month (30% OFF)
3rd Month (20% OFF)
Categories: Inside WFU
Wake Forest receives STARS Gold rating for sustainability achievements
This is a guest post from the Office of Sustainability:
Wake Forest University has earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
The Wake Forest University STARS report is publicly available here on the STARS website.
The Office of Sustainability, established at Wake Forest in July of 2009, facilitated the first STARS assessment for the campus in 2011. The resulting Silver rating served as a baseline for the first campus-wide strategic plan for sustainability. The recent Gold rating reflects the achievements and strategic efforts of stakeholders across the university to incorporate sustainability into academics and research, engagement opportunities, operations, and planning and administration.
With more than 800 participants in 30 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance.
More details are available on the Office of Sustainability website.
Categories: Inside WFU, University Announcement
Champion of Change Award nominations sought by Office of Sustainability
This is a guest post of the Office of Sustainability:
Do you know an individual who has made an impact on campus sustainability at Wake Forest? Nominate him or her for a 2018 Champion of Change Award.
This year’s winners will be recognized at the fifth annual Campus Sustainability Awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 20. Staff, faculty, and students are all eligible, and nominations can be made in the following categories: resource conservation, academics and engagement, service and social action, leadership, and bright ideas.
Nominate yourself or someone else as a Champion of Change for campus sustainability by Wednesday, February 21. The Champions of Change will be recognized at a ceremony on March 20 in the Reynolda Hall Green Room from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
We look forward to celebrating the work of sustainable change agents across campus. For more information, visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.
Categories: Guest Post, Inside WFU
