Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente Named Vice-Chair of ACC Board of Directors
2/14/2024 3:28:00 PM | General
Wente replaces former University of North Carolina Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz in this role.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference and its Board of Directors have announced that Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente has assumed the responsibilities of Vice-Chair and will serve in this role through the remainder of the 2023-24 academic year and throughout 2024-25. University of Virginia President James E. Ryan continues his service as Chair of the Board of Directors, a position he will serve in through the 2024-25 academic year.
"President Wente continues to bring tremendous experience and leadership to the ACC Board of Directors and will be outstanding in her role as Vice-Chair," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. "There is so much positive momentum as a league, and that's due to the incredible vision of the ACC Board of Directors."
"It is an honor to serve the conference as Vice-Chair of the ACC Board of Directors, and I very much look forward to working with my colleagues, Chair Ryan and Commissioner Phillips in this role," President Wente said. "Our league is committed to excellence in academics and athletics, and I am proud to serve in this role as we welcome three prestigious and successful institutions for the upcoming academic year. I look forward to strengthening our league's position in the ever-evolving intercollegiate landscape together as we move forward."
Wente was named a member of the Conference's Executive Committee on July 1, 2022, and as Vice-Chair, she will continue to serve on that Committee.
"I know Demon Deacon Nation is extremely grateful for President Wente devoting time and expertise to helping lead one of Wake Forest's most long-tenured and treasured partnerships, the Atlantic Coast Conference," director of athletics John Currie said. "As an ACC Executive Committee member over the last few years, she's already provided tremendous value to the league, and I am confident that we are in great leadership hands with Dr. Wente as the Vice-Chair of the ACC Board of Directors serving alongside Chair Ryan and Commissioner Phillips."
About President Susan R. Wente, Ph.D.
Dr. Susan R. Wente is Wake Forest University's 14th president and a Distinguished University Professor of Biology and Biochemistry.
Dr. Wente led an inclusive process to design a University Strategic Framework. The Strategic Framework process engaged more than 1,000 Wake Forest faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends in defining and affirming the University's deeply held commitments and aspirations, with an energized call to embody its motto, Pro Humanitate, at home and in the world. The Strategic Framework acknowledges that Wake Forest University is defined, in part, by a strong commitment to compete at the highest levels of college athletics.
Across her academic and administrative career, Dr. Wente has earned a reputation for thoughtful, future-oriented leadership focused on institutional growth, academic excellence, and opportunity for all.
An internationally renowned biomedical scientist, Dr. Wente has maintained an unwavering commitment to research and teaching, mentoring dozens of students and fellows, and publishing more than 100 research articles. A pioneer of team-based, cross-disciplinary research, Dr. Wente's cell biology discoveries have laid the foundation for finding new medicines and treatments, as well as inspired her distinctive philosophy of leadership.
As President, Dr. Wente leads with trust, transparency, and teamwork as core values, and she believes the University's motto – Pro Humanitate – calls Wake Forest to be a catalyst for good in society.
Under Dr. Wente's leadership, Wake Forest has launched new initiatives focused on access and opportunity, including: the For Humanity initiative, which has raised more than $50 million to support new scholarships; and a new pathway for first-generation college students to come to Wake Forest through a specially designated Early Action process.
Dr. Wente arrived at Wake Forest in July 2021 following her service as Provost and interim Chancellor of Vanderbilt University.
During Dr. Wente's tenure, Wake Forest Athletics has had tremendous success, including three ACC Championships (2022: men's cross country, men's golf, women's golf), one NCAA Championship (2023 women's golf) and the Demon Deacons baseball program had a berth in the 2023 Men's College World Series for the first time since 1955 and the football program has captured a pair of bowl championships and won the 2021 Atlantic Division title. Not to mention tremendous individual accolades that include multiple ACC Players of the Year in various sports and numerous academic highlights from Wake Forest's 400-plus student-athletes.
These successes have bolstered Wake Forest's reputation as the fastest-growing and hottest brand in the Power 5 (and the ACC). Since Aug. 1, 2019, Wake Forest has seen a 115 percent growth in its fan base. Across the nation, over 2.7 million people now identify as Wake Forest fans, which ranks ninth in the league, ahead of Virginia Tech and just trailing NC State.
About Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is known for its distinctive combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 5 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 56 conference titles and are one of only seven ACC schools to win 10 or more national championships, along with Notre Dame, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Syracuse and Florida State. Additionally, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which includes 1.3M residents and was ranked as ESPN's seventh-best market from a viewership perspective.
Wake Forest's comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school and an innovative department of engineering. Additionally, Wake Forest has campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, DC – providing many academic offerings to students from across the nation and around the world.
Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.
"President Wente continues to bring tremendous experience and leadership to the ACC Board of Directors and will be outstanding in her role as Vice-Chair," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. "There is so much positive momentum as a league, and that's due to the incredible vision of the ACC Board of Directors."
"It is an honor to serve the conference as Vice-Chair of the ACC Board of Directors, and I very much look forward to working with my colleagues, Chair Ryan and Commissioner Phillips in this role," President Wente said. "Our league is committed to excellence in academics and athletics, and I am proud to serve in this role as we welcome three prestigious and successful institutions for the upcoming academic year. I look forward to strengthening our league's position in the ever-evolving intercollegiate landscape together as we move forward."
Wente was named a member of the Conference's Executive Committee on July 1, 2022, and as Vice-Chair, she will continue to serve on that Committee.
"I know Demon Deacon Nation is extremely grateful for President Wente devoting time and expertise to helping lead one of Wake Forest's most long-tenured and treasured partnerships, the Atlantic Coast Conference," director of athletics John Currie said. "As an ACC Executive Committee member over the last few years, she's already provided tremendous value to the league, and I am confident that we are in great leadership hands with Dr. Wente as the Vice-Chair of the ACC Board of Directors serving alongside Chair Ryan and Commissioner Phillips."
About President Susan R. Wente, Ph.D.
Dr. Susan R. Wente is Wake Forest University's 14th president and a Distinguished University Professor of Biology and Biochemistry.
Dr. Wente led an inclusive process to design a University Strategic Framework. The Strategic Framework process engaged more than 1,000 Wake Forest faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends in defining and affirming the University's deeply held commitments and aspirations, with an energized call to embody its motto, Pro Humanitate, at home and in the world. The Strategic Framework acknowledges that Wake Forest University is defined, in part, by a strong commitment to compete at the highest levels of college athletics.
Across her academic and administrative career, Dr. Wente has earned a reputation for thoughtful, future-oriented leadership focused on institutional growth, academic excellence, and opportunity for all.
An internationally renowned biomedical scientist, Dr. Wente has maintained an unwavering commitment to research and teaching, mentoring dozens of students and fellows, and publishing more than 100 research articles. A pioneer of team-based, cross-disciplinary research, Dr. Wente's cell biology discoveries have laid the foundation for finding new medicines and treatments, as well as inspired her distinctive philosophy of leadership.
As President, Dr. Wente leads with trust, transparency, and teamwork as core values, and she believes the University's motto – Pro Humanitate – calls Wake Forest to be a catalyst for good in society.
Under Dr. Wente's leadership, Wake Forest has launched new initiatives focused on access and opportunity, including: the For Humanity initiative, which has raised more than $50 million to support new scholarships; and a new pathway for first-generation college students to come to Wake Forest through a specially designated Early Action process.
Dr. Wente arrived at Wake Forest in July 2021 following her service as Provost and interim Chancellor of Vanderbilt University.
During Dr. Wente's tenure, Wake Forest Athletics has had tremendous success, including three ACC Championships (2022: men's cross country, men's golf, women's golf), one NCAA Championship (2023 women's golf) and the Demon Deacons baseball program had a berth in the 2023 Men's College World Series for the first time since 1955 and the football program has captured a pair of bowl championships and won the 2021 Atlantic Division title. Not to mention tremendous individual accolades that include multiple ACC Players of the Year in various sports and numerous academic highlights from Wake Forest's 400-plus student-athletes.
These successes have bolstered Wake Forest's reputation as the fastest-growing and hottest brand in the Power 5 (and the ACC). Since Aug. 1, 2019, Wake Forest has seen a 115 percent growth in its fan base. Across the nation, over 2.7 million people now identify as Wake Forest fans, which ranks ninth in the league, ahead of Virginia Tech and just trailing NC State.
About Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is known for its distinctive combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 5 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 56 conference titles and are one of only seven ACC schools to win 10 or more national championships, along with Notre Dame, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Syracuse and Florida State. Additionally, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which includes 1.3M residents and was ranked as ESPN's seventh-best market from a viewership perspective.
Wake Forest's comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school and an innovative department of engineering. Additionally, Wake Forest has campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, DC – providing many academic offerings to students from across the nation and around the world.
Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.
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