Administrative Updates
In this Issue:
- Messages from Provost Gillespie and President Wente
- Multitasking? Maybe not.
- Wake Forest Chamber Choir goes to Brazil
- What is Wake Forest University? (Jeopardy edition)
- Students living off campus for 2025-26; action needed
Today I have a big administrative announcement to share, plus a handful of interesting news stories and notes. Read on for more…
Messages from Provost Gillespie and President Wente
Provost Michele Gillespie shared a message with the campus community today, announcing her plans to step away from serving as Provost at the end of July and returning to the classroom as the Presidential Endowed Professor in Southern History; read the full message here.
President Wente then sent a message of appreciation for Provost Gillespie’s exceptional service to Wake Forest, and announced that in the weeks ahead, she will share more about interim leadership. Read Dr. Wente’s full message here.
On a purely personal note, Provost Gillespie and I have been at Wake about the same amount of time and I have enjoyed the many projects I have worked on with her over the years. She is such a passionate advocate for great teaching, learning, research, and community. It will be an amazing boon for our students to be able to have her back in the classroom.
Thank you, Provost Gillespie!
Multitasking? Maybe not.
One of my colleagues shared this Wake news story with me, and I thought you might enjoy it too:
“Our kids may think they are listening to music, studying for tests and keeping up with texts and social media simultaneously, but research is showing that we really can’t pay attention to multiple things at once. Wake Forest University psychology professor Anthony Sali is collaborating with a neuroscience expert to learn more about how the brain really works. By studying the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, new findings are debunking the myth of multitasking. Check out this Q&A and expert video at Wake Forest News to learn more: Multitasking? Maybe not.”
I see this sort of multitasking while my own ’27 is trying to work on something, as well as seeing students in my classes, so I am really curious to see what Dr. Sali discovers. In all fairness, in my own job I do a lot of multitasking, so I am also interested for myself!
Wake Forest Chamber Choir goes to Brazil
A colleague also shared this tidbit with me about the Wake Forest Chamber Choir going on a trip to Brazil: they have “experienced an incredible mix of music, culture and connection while visiting Brazil. Highlights of the trip include a capoeira workshop, a visit to the Campinho da Independência community, and a full concert at Casa da Cultura. Take a look at the photo album.”
What is Wake Forest University? (Jeopardy edition)
This one goes out to the Jeopardy fans among us. I was not watching last night, but this post hit my social media feed after the show:
Students living off campus for 2025-26; action needed
Last but not least today, students who are listed as living off campus for 2025-26 received this off campus newsletter today reminding them of important action items and deadlines. Here is an excerpt of key dates:
- July 1: Off-Campus Address Registration and Orientation opens
- August 1: Deadline to decrease your meal plan
- August 11: Deadline to complete Off-Campus Address Registration and Orientation
If you have a Deac living off campus when school begins in August, please be sure they take care of the important details from the message.