Flourish in the Forest
Dear [parent/family member name],
We look forward to welcoming you and your student to campus in a few weeks and beginning your Wake Forest experience. I was drawn to Wake Forest based on the strength of our community and the high value placed on personal engagement. We strive to support our students and their families in every facet of college life.
As I am also a new arrival to Wake Forest, and a parent myself, I appreciate how joining a new community brings both challenges and opportunities. Living with new people, tackling high-level academics, managing their own time and finding their “place” at Wake Forest will be an adjustment for new students. It is a time of change for our parents and families as well.
There will be many opportunities for you to meet the faculty, staff and administrators who will help your student rise to the challenges of college life and thrive in their new Wake Forest home. Please join us for an orientation session and panel discussion, “Flourish in the Forest: Navigating Change, Embracing Challenge,” at one of two times: Wednesday, August 18 or Thursday, August 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Wait Chapel. Based on current campus policies, all visitors (anyone other than students and employees) to campus must wear a mask while indoors regardless of vaccination status. We will continue to keep you apprised of any changes related to public health guidance. We encourage you to register for one session at the New Students website.
Each orientation session will feature a panel of Wake Forest leaders in academics and campus life, which encompasses wellbeing and residence life and housing.
On August 18, panelists include:
- Stephanie Carter, Director of Residence Life, Residence Life and Housing
- Rogan Kersh, Provost
- James Raper, Assistant Vice President for Health and Wellbeing
- Penny Rue, Vice President for Campus Life
On August 19, panelists include:
- Matt Clifford, Assistant Vice President of Campus Life and Dean of Residence Life and Housing
- Penny Rue, Vice President for Campus Life
- Michele Gillespie, Dean of the College
- Warrenetta Mann, Director of the Counseling Center
Open dialogue and communication are an integral part of the Wake Forest educational and residential experience. We welcome any questions you have for our panelists. Please submit your questions by Tuesday, August 10, at 12 p.m. EDT so that we can share them with the appropriate panelist.
I hope you will be able to attend one of these valuable panel discussions, and I truly look forward to welcoming you and your student to our campus community.
Sincerely,
Susan R. Wente, Ph.D.
President