WFU in the news: March 11-17, 2024

FEATURED NEWS

Ed Wilson, ‘Mr. Wake Forest,’ dies at 101
By Paul Garber | Winston-Salem Journal
Former Provost Emeritus Ed Wilson said in 2015 that as a young reader he was captivated by authors such as Sir Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, and Emily and Charlotte Bronte, as well as the tales of King Arthur. “It was the English writers that drew me especially. I was an Anglophile from an early stage.” He was named dean of the college in 1960 and that same year, students dedicated the yearbook to him. The writers described him as “a man who sacrificed much of his first love – teaching – to become an equally able administrator.” – 3/14/2024

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

3 things to watch for in Russia’s presidential election – other than Putin’s win
By Adam Charles Lenton | The Conversation
Politics and International Affairs Professor Adam Lenton writes: “Russians will vote in a presidential election from March 15-17, 2024, and are all but guaranteed to hand Vladimir Putin a comfortable victory, paving the way for him to remain in power until at least 2030. While the result may be a foregone conclusion, the election offers an important glimpse into the Kremlin’s domestic challenges as it continues a war against Ukraine that recently entered its third year.” – 3/12/2024

This article was reprinted in outlets worldwide.

The U.S. spent $179 million in 2023 minting pennies and nickels. Why do we still need cash?
By María Soledad Davila Calero | Fortune
While Congress has spent more than 30 years entertaining legislation to eliminate the penny, economics professor Robert Whaples said he’s not optimistic of a meaningful change any time soon. One reason the Mint keeps making pennies, Whaples explained, is because so many pennies end up in jars on dressers and scattered on coffee tables. People don’t use them, and the government wants hard currency to be circulated. “You want your money to make transactions more efficient. You want your money to facilitate commerce,” he added. – 3/13/2024

2024’s noteworthy commencement speakers
By Michael T. Nietzel | Forbes
Mandy K. Cohen, the Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, will give Wake Forest University’s commencement address on May 20. “As a physician and leader, Dr. Cohen has dedicated her career to improving health and wellbeing in North Carolina and nationwide,” said Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente in a news release. – 3/13/2024

How a new company uses machine learning to measure academic impact
By Michael T. Nietzel | Forbes
AcademicInfluence.com, co-founded in 2020 by physics professor Jed Macosko and president of the fledgling startup, believes it has the answer with a novel use of machine learning to measure various aspects of higher education, including college and department rankings, scholarly reputations and publications with the greatest impact. – 3/14/2024

New IMF report takes the pulse of rapidly changing China-Africa economic trends
By Eric Olander | chinaglobalsouth.com
Associate Professor of Politics & International Affairs Lina Benabdallah, an expert on China-Africa relations foreign policy, is mentioned in this article. She is the author of the book, “Shaping the Future of Power: Knowledge Production and Network-Building in China-Africa Relations.” – 3/12/2024

REGIONAL & TRADE

Joint employer rule’s revival options include ignoring judge
By Robert Iafolla | Bloomberg Tax
A federal district court’s invalidation of a National Labor Relations Board regulation on joint employer liability under federal labor law presents the board with several potential responses—including treading into untested legal territory. “This is as complicated as any case I’ve heard of in the last few decades,” said law professor Sidney Shapiro of the NLRB’s joint employment situation. – 3/12/2024

Edwin G. Wilson, beloved Wake Forest University professor and Provost Emeritus, has died
By Bethany Chafin | WFDD-FM (Winston-Salem, NC)
Wake Forest University retired professor of English and Provost Emeritus Edwin G. Wilson has died. Affectionately known as “Mr. Wake Forest,” Wilson served as the university’s first provost from 1967 to 1990 and was a pivotal figure in the community. During his leadership tenure, a faculty committee voted to end segregation and the university established the Wake Forest University Press. As an English professor, he inspired thousands of students with his teachings on British Romantic poetry. – 3/14/2024

LOCAL

Loxx Boxx products aim to thwart porch pirates from their plunder
By Richard Craver | Winston-Salem Journal
“While the company is not the only provider of a secure at-home package delivery system, its use of innovative technology through its lock and app can give it a competitive advantage,” said marketing professor Roger Beahm. “It can appeal to consumers who want both security and convenience when it comes to their home deliveries.” Beahm said offering customers peace of mind with online shipping can be “an emotional benefit.” – 3/15/2024

Mark Walker drops out of 6th District race to work for Trump campaign
By Richard Craver | Winston-Salem Journal
“Mark Walker had previously served in Congress for six years and had the highest name recognition of any candidate in the race, while McDowell had not held public office and enjoyed very little name recognition before he secured Donald Trump’s endorsement,” Dinan said. “But Trump’s endorsement of McDowell and his highlighting of that endorsement in a campaign appearance in Greensboro in the week before the election was enough to propel McDowell to the top spot in the primary.” – 3/14/2024

WAKE FOREST NEWS

WFU remembers ‘Mr. Wake Forest,’ Provost Emeritus Edwin G. Wilson
By Office of Communications & External Relations | Wake Forest News
Wake Forest has dedicated a remembrance site with Wilson’s story, a photo gallery and a guestbook at edwilson.wfu.edu. No one has been more closely associated with Wake Forest University or told its story more eloquently and passionately for the last half century than Professor of English and Provost Emeritus Edwin G. Wilson (’43). Wilson died on March 13, 2024, in Winston-Salem at the age of 101. – 3/14/2024