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@wfu.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
Wake Forest Fellows announced for 2019-2020
Wake Forest Fellows, 2019-2020, left to right, Natalie Wilson, Daniel Oberti, Daniella Feijoo, Sophie Leruth, Austin Offnick, Dalia Namak, Matt Schlosser, Mella Tesfazgi
Eight seniors will remain at Wake Forest after graduation in May as Wake Forest Fellows. They will work throughout the campus community, including in the offices of the President, the Provost and the Dean of the College.
Since 2008, the Wake Forest Fellows program has provided exceptional Wake Forest college graduates with the opportunity to work in higher education administration for a year. Each fellow will serve as a full-time Wake Forest staff member, starting this summer. In addition to working with top administrators, the fellows will participate in leadership activities and interact with faculty, staff and students to learn about the inner workings of higher education.
The Wake Forest Fellows for 2019-20 are:
- Campus Life: Daniella Feijoo, Wauconda, Ill.; major, Politics and International Affairs with a double major in Spanish; minor, Latin American Studies
- Dean of the College: Dalia Namak, Winston-Salem; major, Anthropology with a double major in Politics and International Affairs; minor, Middle East and South Asia Studies
- Information Systems: Mella Tesfazgi,Charlotte; major, Economics; minors, Politics and International Affairs and Global Trade and Commerce
- Office of Personal & Career Development: Natalie Wilson, Fredericksburg, Va.; major, Sociology; minors, Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Interdisciplinary Writing
- President’s Office: Matthew Schlosser, Brandon, Fla.; major, English with a double major in Politics and International Affairs
- Provost’s Office: Sophie Leruth, Williamsburg, Va.; major, Politics and International Affairs with a double major in Spanish
- Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center: Austin Offnick, Sewickley, Pa.; major, Economics with a double major in Spanish
- Wake Downtown: Daniel Oberti, Richmond Hill, Ga.; Studio Art (double concentration in Sculpture and Printmaking) with a double major in Biology; minor, Chemistry
Alumni of the Wake Forest Fellows program have pursued careers in many fields, including law, medicine, public policy and more. Fellows have since received prestigious academic honors such as Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships.
Categories: Inside WFU, Staff News
