Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente to Serve as Chair of ACC Board of Directors
7/10/2025 11:57:00 AM | General
President Wente follows University of Virginia President James E. Ryan in this role. Dr. Wente has served as Vice-Chair of the Board since February 2024.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference and its Board of Directors have announced that Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente will become Chair of the ACC Board of Directors beginning July 1, 2025. Dr. Wente has served as Vice-Chair of the Board since February 2024 and was first named to the Conference's Executive Committee during the 2021-22 academic year. She will succeed current Chair and University of Virginia President James E. Ryan, who will conclude his service as Chair at the end of the 2024-25 academic year.
"As the ACC enters its 73rd year, the energy and momentum surrounding our league have never been stronger which is a direct reflection of the exceptional leadership across our 18 member institutions," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "It is a true honor to work alongside the ACC Board of Directors, whose vision and guidance continue to elevate the conference and reinforce its position as a national leader in college athletics."
"It is a privilege to be selected as the next Chair of the ACC Board of Directors," said President Wente. "I want to thank President Jim Ryan for his thoughtful leadership of our conference during a time of great change across intercollegiate athletics. I look forward to working closely with Commissioner Phillips and my fellow presidents and chancellors to further advance the mission and values of the ACC. We are in the strongest position ever due to our unwavering focus on academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity."
The ACC has won 29 NCAA team titles since 2021, including Wake Forest's 2023 Women's Golf and 2025 Men's Tennis championships; and the conference's top-tier academic performance is reflected in the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) data, where the ACC average APR of 991 is seven points above the Division I national average.
President Wente has been an influential member of the ACC's leadership structure, providing strategic insight and steady counsel as the Conference navigates an evolving college athletics landscape.
"President Wente is deeply invested in the ACC as one of Wake Forest's most important partnerships," said Wake Forest Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie. "We all benefit from her experience in two Power Four leagues and her expertise in both the academic and athletic dimensions of our enterprise. As Chair of the ACC Board of Directors, she will continue to help shape the future of college athletics in a way that reflects the values of Wake Forest, our conference partners, and benefits student-athletes across the country."
Wente's continued involvement in ACC governance reinforces Wake Forest's long-standing commitment to excellence in academics and athletics. She will remain on the ACC Executive Committee in her current capacity and assume the full responsibilities of Board Chair beginning in July.
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 the 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 $130 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 six ACC Championships (2024: men's soccer, cross country, women's golf, 2022: men's cross country, men's golf, women's golf), two NCAA Championships (2025: men's tennis, 2023: women's golf) and the Demon Deacons baseball program secured 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 11th 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 4 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 59 conference titles and are one of nine ACC schools to win 11 or more national championships. Additionally, with 1.7 million people within 30 miles of campus, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which ranks as ESPN's seventh-best nationally 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.
"As the ACC enters its 73rd year, the energy and momentum surrounding our league have never been stronger which is a direct reflection of the exceptional leadership across our 18 member institutions," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "It is a true honor to work alongside the ACC Board of Directors, whose vision and guidance continue to elevate the conference and reinforce its position as a national leader in college athletics."
"It is a privilege to be selected as the next Chair of the ACC Board of Directors," said President Wente. "I want to thank President Jim Ryan for his thoughtful leadership of our conference during a time of great change across intercollegiate athletics. I look forward to working closely with Commissioner Phillips and my fellow presidents and chancellors to further advance the mission and values of the ACC. We are in the strongest position ever due to our unwavering focus on academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity."
The ACC has won 29 NCAA team titles since 2021, including Wake Forest's 2023 Women's Golf and 2025 Men's Tennis championships; and the conference's top-tier academic performance is reflected in the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) data, where the ACC average APR of 991 is seven points above the Division I national average.
President Wente has been an influential member of the ACC's leadership structure, providing strategic insight and steady counsel as the Conference navigates an evolving college athletics landscape.
"President Wente is deeply invested in the ACC as one of Wake Forest's most important partnerships," said Wake Forest Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie. "We all benefit from her experience in two Power Four leagues and her expertise in both the academic and athletic dimensions of our enterprise. As Chair of the ACC Board of Directors, she will continue to help shape the future of college athletics in a way that reflects the values of Wake Forest, our conference partners, and benefits student-athletes across the country."
Wente's continued involvement in ACC governance reinforces Wake Forest's long-standing commitment to excellence in academics and athletics. She will remain on the ACC Executive Committee in her current capacity and assume the full responsibilities of Board Chair beginning in July.
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 the 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 $130 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 six ACC Championships (2024: men's soccer, cross country, women's golf, 2022: men's cross country, men's golf, women's golf), two NCAA Championships (2025: men's tennis, 2023: women's golf) and the Demon Deacons baseball program secured 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 11th 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 4 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 59 conference titles and are one of nine ACC schools to win 11 or more national championships. Additionally, with 1.7 million people within 30 miles of campus, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which ranks as ESPN's seventh-best nationally 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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