Nominations sought for commencement 2020 speaker
The Office of the Provost e-mailed this announcement to students, faculty and staff on Sept. 24:
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 2020 Commencement speaker. As we begin this exciting task, we look to you to provide us with speaker nominations for Commencement 2020.
Please submit your suggestions to CSAC@nullwfu.edu by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4. Submissions must include:
- Name of nominee
- A response to the 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 and of nominations with a Wake Forest connection. Suggestions are also gratefully welcomed from faculty and staff.
As you can imagine, people 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 2020’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 and Professor of Politics and International Affairs
Kyle Adams, Class of 2021 and Student Trustee
Shannon Dubuisson, Executive Director of University Events
Michele Gillespie, Dean of the College and Presidential Endowed Chair of Southern History
Eranda Jayawickreme, Associate Professor of Psychology
Mark Knudson, President of the Faculty Senate and Professor of Family Medicine
Sophie Leruth, Wake Forest Fellow in the Office of the Provost
Mellie Mesfin, Class of 2020 and President of Student Government
Julia Mroz, Class of 2020 and President of Student Union
Matt Schlosser, Wake Forest Fellow in the Office of the President
Harold Pace, Assistant Provost for Academic Administration and University Registrar
Samantha Perrotta Turner, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Provost
Mary Pugel, Chief of Staff, Office of the President
Christina Soriano, Associate Provost for the Arts and Interdisciplinary Initiatives and Associate Professor of Dance
Categories: University Announcement
Campus activity related to executive order on immigration
This is a message emailed by Provost Rogan Kersh and Vice President Penny Rue on Feb. 3 to students, faculty and staff:
To the Wake Forest community:
On Monday, President Hatch affirmed the University’s values in the wake of the recent executive order singling out political/social refugees and other immigrants from a list of seven majority-Muslim countries. In addition, President Hatch, along with many other university presidents and chancellors, this week signed a letter to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly emphasizing the “chilling effect” of the Administration’s executive order “on the ability of international students and scholars to continue to see the U.S. as a welcoming place for study and research.” Wake Forest University leaders pledge our continued support for all our students, faculty and staff, particularly those potentially at risk of having their education disrupted by this and similar policies.
We continue to work with students as well as faculty and staff on campus who have personal or familial concerns about possible changes to immigration status, including the DACA policy. Law School professor Margaret Taylor is coordinating this effort, along with José Villalba of the College Dean’s Office.
Through conversations across our community we understand that many seek to engage directly in activities consonant with our mission and values: educating ourselves and one another about ongoing developments and their implications, or extending assistance to those newly arrived in our city. This is an initial list of the many encouraging actions taking place on our campus and locally. We will continue to update the list at the Community in Progress website.
If you are interested in supporting recently-arrived refugees in Winston-Salem, information about ‘Every Campus a Refuge,’ and related opportunities, is available through Michaelle Browers in the Department of Politics and International Affairs and/or Sam Perrotta in the Provost’s Office. Michelle Voss-Roberts from the Divinity School and Alessandra Von Burg from the Department of Communication have joined in this effort — a testament to the cross-university nature of many related actions.
For those seeking to learn more about the administration’s executive order on immigration/ refugees, open discussions, led by faculty, staff and students are scheduled in the near future.
Today at 3 p.m. in Pugh Auditorium, a group of interdisciplinary faculty will host a forum on the administration’s refugee and immigration policy.
Next Wednesday, Feb. 8, our chapter of the national political-science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha, will host a discussion focused on the President’s first 100 days in office, featuring faculty from the politics and international affairs department.
On Monday, Feb. 13, at noon, Law School faculty experts will discuss Trump Administration executive orders and other policies affecting immigration, climate change, and safety regulations in the 2nd floor courtroom of Worrell Professional Center.
Additionally, several campus groups are offering information and support:
Our Office of International Students and Scholars is also providing regularly updated information about the executive order’s apparent implications. Contact Kelia Hubbard for more information.
SAFAR is a group of Wake Forest students, faculty, and staff committed to supporting refugees in the Winston Salem community. Rose O’Brien is the founding member, and sponsored Refugee Day last semester. She is the 2017 recipient of a Martin Luther King Building the Dream Award for this work.
The Social Justice Incubator in the Kitchin Hall lounge is a discussion/engagement space for students concerned about the executive order and impact on immigrant and refugee populations. Contact Chizoba Ukairo, student coordinator, or Marianne Magjuka.
There are several ways to get involved beyond our campus boundaries. Several local organizations support immigrants and refugees:
North Carolina African Services Coalition
The Center for New North Carolinians
We salute the many Wake Foresters who are taking initiative, and urge all of us to do the same. If you are organizing or are aware of related efforts to inform, discuss or assist, please send details to Matt Williams or either of us, for inclusion on the Community in Progress site.
The degree of engagement across and beyond campus emphasizes the care Wake Foresters are taking, on many fronts, to ensure that our learning community is preserved and that our core commitment to inclusion is exemplified during this difficult time.
Spiritedly yours,
Rogan Kersh Penny Rue
Provost and Professor Vice President, Campus Life
Categories: University Announcement
Open forum scheduled for ZSR Library dean search
The search committee for the new dean of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library is hosting an open forum for all Wake Forest faculty and staff on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the ZSR Library Auditorium.
In preparation for the gathering, please consider the following questions and come prepared to share your thoughts.
- Which major highlights about our nationally-recognized ZSR Library should be emphasized in order to attract top-notch candidates to the position?
- What challenges and opportunities might the next dean face in her or his first three years in this role?
- What are the most important professional skills and personal attributes required to be considered a strong candidate?
For those unable to attend the forum, please share your thoughts and suggestions by emailing wfuzsrdean@nullwfu.edu.
Categories: University Announcement
Secrest Artists Series begins Thursday
A message from Professor of English Scott Klein
As the artistic director of the Secrest Artists Series, I’d like to welcome you to the 2014-15 season. The Series is committed to presenting nationally and internationally known performing artists to our University and to our larger community.
Admission for faculty, staff, and students is free: this makes the Secrest Series unique among U.S. University arts series.
There is no need to request season tickets in advance. Faculty, staff and retirees, along with one guest, will be admitted to performances upon presentation of a valid Wake Forest ID. Additional tickets for events are available at community prices, which are posted on our website.
Categories: Events
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@nullwfu.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
Categories: Events
