Dear Wake Forest Community,

As members of the Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee, we look forward to engaging our graduating students and other members of the university community in the selection process of our 2018 Commencement speaker. As we begin this exciting task, we look to you to provide us with speaker nominations for Commencement 2018.

Please submit your suggestions to CSAC@wfu.edu by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 19 Submissions must include:

·  Name of nominee

·  Two to three paragraphs answering the following question: “Why do you think this person would be an exceptional Commencement speaker at Wake Forest University?”

·  Any contact name(s) for your nomination (if possible) and/or any connection to Wake Forest.

We are especially interested in hearing from graduating students.  Suggestions are also gratefully welcomed from faculty and staff.

As you can imagine, persons of this caliber are in high demand. While we hope to host a speaker from suggestions we receive, we cannot guarantee that our invitations will be accepted.  Your thoughts will be vital to informing our approach and to selecting a speaker.

This committee is dedicated to the transparency of this process, but please understand that the actual invitation process must remain confidential. Announcement of the Class of 2018’s commencement speaker will follow a similar timeline as in years past.

We look forward to reviewing your nominations.

Sincerely,

The Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee

Rogan Kersh, Provost and Professor of Politics and International Affairs

Sydney Feinglass, Wake Forest Fellow, Office of the President

Jorge Fournier, Student and Student Trustee

Jack Garvey, Student and President, Student Union

Michele Gillespie, Dean of the College and Presidential Endowed Chair of Southern History

Mia Harris, Wake Forest Fellow, Office of the Provost

Geni Holmes, Executive Director, University Events

Eranda Jayawickreme, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology

Harold Pace, Assistant Provost for Academic Administration and University Registrar

Samantha Perrotta Turner, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Provost

Mary Pugel, Chief of Staff, Office of the President

Spencer Schiller, Student and President, Student Government

Christina Soriano, Associate Professor of Dance and Administrative Fellow

Contact

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