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Wake in the News
Major national and regional news organizations regularly interview Wake Forest faculty, staff, and students for their expertise and perspectives on current events, and to feature programs and activities on campus.
Winston-Salem Journal
Misty Copeland, a ballet dancer and author, urged the graduates of Wake Forest University to use their courage and compassion in their careers and apply their success to serve humanity. “You do not have to have everything figured out,” Misty Copeland told a crowd of nearly 10,000 gathered on Hearn Plaza. “I’m still figuring it out.” Copeland served as the keynote speaker at the University’s 2026 commencement ceremony. The Journal’s photo gallery is available here.
WFMY News 2 shared live news highlights ahead of commencement and interviewed engineering graduate Scarlett Johnson on Hearn Plaza. Spectrum News also covered the event.
May 18, 2026
Winston-Salem Journal
Wake Forest University names new president
The Board of Trustees of Wake Forest University announced the appointment of Peter Rodriguez as the University’s 15th President. A distinguished economist and transformative academic leader, Rodriguez currently serves as the dean of Rice University’s School of Business, which includes the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business and the Virani Undergraduate School of Business. He will begin his presidency on July 1, 2026.
Coverage of this announcement was featured in local, regional and national news outlets, including: Triad Business Journal, Houston Business Journal, 247Sports, Baptist News Global, Our Esquina, WXII, WFDD, WFMY, Fox 8 WGHP, Poets&Quants, Yahoo!News, Hoodline, and WS Today | Hello Winston
May 20, 2026
A Catalyst for Good
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