Important decisions to be made by March 30
The following message was emailed to the campus community March 19 on behalf of Provost Rogan Kersh and Executive Vice President Hof Milam:
Dear Wake Forest Community,
In this unprecedented time in the history of Wake Forest — and our region and country — we all face profound uncertainties as a result of COVID-19. As we continue to make decisions in the best interest of the health and safety of the Wake Forest campus and surrounding communities, there are two most common questions we would like to address:
First, will students return to campus for the remainder of this semester, or will remote education continue for the duration of the academic year?
Having everyone back on campus is our ideal scenario, and we hope we can resume in-person instruction. We continue to monitor new developments related to COVID-19 in our area and throughout the United States, with all our decisions made based on recommendations of public health officials and the directives of our local, state, and national governments. We will similarly determine whether students can return in accordance with public health guidance.
Second, will Wake Forest hold its typical Commencement ceremony as scheduled on May 18?
For the class of 2020 and their families, we know you have been looking forward to Commencement. We would like nothing better than to celebrate your achievements with you and your families on Hearn Plaza. But again, despite our aspirations, we may be constrained by governmental directives and guidance of public health officials. As with course instruction, we will continue to assess the quickly evolving situation to determine if we can hold a ceremony on campus as scheduled.
We write today to let you know that we are carefully considering these two important questions and will share decisions no later than March 30.
This is not the semester any of us hoped for, and is certainly not the final semester any member of the class of 2020 envisioned. We know there is a lot of disappointment, but we are also impressed by (and grateful for) the resiliency of the Wake Forest community.
Keeping the health, safety and wellbeing of all top of mind, we will make the best decisions we can in this continually changing situation. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support amid this pandemic.
Sincerely,
Rogan Kersh
Provost
Hof Milam
Executive Vice President
Categories: University Announcement
Dean Suzanne Reynolds to step down after 2018-2019 academic year
President Hatch emailed this announcement to faculty and staff on May 23:
Dear Wake Forest Faculty and Staff,
After nearly 40 years of exceptional service to Wake Forest University School of Law, Suzanne Reynolds has decided that the 2018-2019 academic year will be her last as dean.
Dean Reynolds, who joined the Wake Forest law faculty in 1981, will return to the law school faculty on July 1, 2019, at the completion of her fifth year leading the school. She served as interim dean for a year before being appointed dean on July 1, 2015.
Our law school has been on a remarkable trajectory under Suzanne’s steadfast guidance – even as legal education nationally has faced many challenges. Her numerous contributions include a vision that ensured Wake Forest has continued to set the highest standards in legal education, the addition of new academic programs to meet evolving needs of legal professionals, and mentorship of our law students that exemplifies the blend of research and practice that distinguishes the school.
For example, the 2019 U.S. News & World Report rankings recognized the law school as No. 32 in the nation, its second highest position ever and third rise in the past three years. In addition, Wake Forest graduates earned the highest North Carolina bar passage rate in 2017 and an even higher rate among all states where numbers of its graduates sat for the bar.
Reynolds has worked tirelessly to “bring law to the world” by moving the law school’s Master of Studies in Law (MSL) degree wholly online and adding four online-only graduate certificate programs as well as increasing the number of online JD courses.
And, she has been instrumental in reconnecting law school alumni with the University. During her tenure as dean, she has helped secure more than $15 million in gifts and pledges for student scholarships and financial aid, faculty and programmatic support and the Worrell Professional Center.
Known nationally for her expertise in family law, Reynolds will continue to work on a new edition of a three-volume treatise on North Carolina family law that has become the authoritative source for law students, lawyers and judges.
This summer, Provost Rogan Kersh will chair a national search for her successor. We are fortunate to have experienced associate deans in the law school who will help make the transition as smooth as possible.
Please join me in thanking and congratulating Dean Reynolds for her continued leadership of the law school and her incredible service to Wake Forest.
Sincerely,
Nathan O. Hatch
President
Categories: University Announcement
