Week 1 Open the Gate Honoree: President Susan R. Wente
8/31/2021 5:27:00 PM | Football, General
Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente is set to be the Demon Deacons Open the Gate honoree for Friday’s season opener against Old Dominion.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest Athletics Open the Gate tradition has been an important and unique aspect of football games since its inception in 2008. The tradition allows Wake Forest to honor individuals that make its University and Winston-Salem community so special.
Honorees ride on the back of the motorcycle with the Demon Deacon mascot and lead the football team onto Truist Field. The first ever honoree was Wake Forest and Winston-Salem legend, Chris Paul.
Other notable honorees include Tim Duncan, Arnold Palmer, and Josh Howard.
President Susan R. Wente will be the first honoree this fall as she will lead the team onto Truist Field ahead of the Deacons' contest against Old Dominion on Friday night.
Dr. Wente began her tenure as the 14th president of Wake Forest University on July 1, 2021. Dr. Wente joined Wake Forest after serving at Vanderbilt University since 2002. During her time with Vanderbilt, she served as professor, provost, vice chancellor, and interim chancellor. Dr. Wente was responsible for spearheading many initiatives at Vanderbilt, including creating the university's Office of Inclusive Excellence and launching a new structure that enhanced the academic relationship between the university and the medical center.
Born and raised in Iowa, Dr. Wente earned a bachelors of science in biochemistry from the University of Iowa. She also earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Wente began her career in education at Washington University's School of Medicine. During her time in St. Louis, she served as an assistant professor and associate professor of cell biology. After leaving Washington University, she served as a professor and chair of the department of cell biology and developmental biology in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Wente has received several awards over her illustrious career. In 2011, she won the Women in Cell Biology Senior Career Award from the American Society for Cell Biology. She won the MERIT Award from the National Institutes of Health for the years 2010-2020. In 2020, she was named the Nashville Business Journal's 2020 Woman of Influence Award.
Wake Forest Athletics are extremely excited that Dr. Susan R. Wente will lead the Demon Deacons onto Truist Field for their inaugural home game against Old Dominion.
Honorees ride on the back of the motorcycle with the Demon Deacon mascot and lead the football team onto Truist Field. The first ever honoree was Wake Forest and Winston-Salem legend, Chris Paul.
Other notable honorees include Tim Duncan, Arnold Palmer, and Josh Howard.
President Susan R. Wente will be the first honoree this fall as she will lead the team onto Truist Field ahead of the Deacons' contest against Old Dominion on Friday night.
Dr. Wente began her tenure as the 14th president of Wake Forest University on July 1, 2021. Dr. Wente joined Wake Forest after serving at Vanderbilt University since 2002. During her time with Vanderbilt, she served as professor, provost, vice chancellor, and interim chancellor. Dr. Wente was responsible for spearheading many initiatives at Vanderbilt, including creating the university's Office of Inclusive Excellence and launching a new structure that enhanced the academic relationship between the university and the medical center.
Born and raised in Iowa, Dr. Wente earned a bachelors of science in biochemistry from the University of Iowa. She also earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Wente began her career in education at Washington University's School of Medicine. During her time in St. Louis, she served as an assistant professor and associate professor of cell biology. After leaving Washington University, she served as a professor and chair of the department of cell biology and developmental biology in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Wente has received several awards over her illustrious career. In 2011, she won the Women in Cell Biology Senior Career Award from the American Society for Cell Biology. She won the MERIT Award from the National Institutes of Health for the years 2010-2020. In 2020, she was named the Nashville Business Journal's 2020 Woman of Influence Award.
Wake Forest Athletics are extremely excited that Dr. Susan R. Wente will lead the Demon Deacons onto Truist Field for their inaugural home game against Old Dominion.
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