Wake Forest welcomes 14th president, Susan R. Wente

On July 1, Susan R. Wente took the helm as Wake Forest University’s 14th president.

“I am eager to meet all of you and get started writing the next chapter of Wake Forest’s story,” Wente said in a message to the University community this morning. 

Wente was Vanderbilt’s first female provost and is Wake Forest’s first female president.

She models the University’s distinctive teacher-scholar ideal and has mentored and conducted research with undergraduates throughout her career. A renowned biomedical scientist and visionary higher education leader, Wente previously served as Vanderbilt’s provost and vice chancellor. She also took on the role of interim chancellor for eleven months and guided Vanderbilt’s response to the pandemic.

Wake Forest announced Wente’s appointment as the University’s president in January. She succeeds Nathan O. Hatch, who was named president in 2005 and has led Wake Forest for the past 16 years.

Meet President Wente:

• Visit the Wake Forest President’s website. 
• View the photo gallery of Wente’s first day.
• Follow Wente on Twitter and Instagram at @PresidentWente
• Watch the video of Wente’s greeting to the campus community