The following message was sent to parents and families 

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Dear Wake Forest University Parents and Families,

I am very sorry to tell you that one of our students, Bingrui (Zachary) Zhang, a rising junior biophysics major from Beijing, China, has died. Please join me in offering your thoughts and prayers to Zachary’s family and friends during this heartbreaking time.

Even though it is the summer and most of our students are home, there is support available for any student who needs it. Students can contact the University Counseling Center (336-758-5273); crisis counseling is available anytime, anywhere. Students can also contact the Office of the Chaplain (336-758-5210) for support. International students may also want to contact the Office of Global Programs and Studies (336-758-5938). Undergraduate students who find it challenging to meet academic obligations should contact the Office of Academic Advising (336-758-3320). We always want students to know that it is wise to seek help during their grief and that it is a sign of strength. Please encourage your students to ask for help if they need it.

Copied below is the message that your students, faculty, and staff received. As with all campus-wide emails, those are archived on the Family News section of the Parents and Families page.

I know that after the loss of a student, sometimes families have questions about what happened. Please know that we are required to uphold students’ privacy due to laws such as FERPA and HIPAA. However, please be assured that if there were any health or safety risks to your students, we would communicate those promptly. We hope this will allay concerns that extend beyond the unthinkable sadness that comes with a student’s passing.

Please know that we will do all we can to support our students at this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Betsy Chapman (’92, MA ’94)
Executive Director of Family Communication and Volunteer Management

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Dear Wake Forest Students, Faculty and Staff,
I am deeply saddened to inform you that Bingrui (Zachary) Zhang, a rising junior biophysics major from Beijing, China, has died. He was found unresponsive at an off-campus apartment today after a friend reported him missing to Wake Forest University Police.
We extend our sincere condolences to his family, as well as students, faculty and staff who knew him. Zachary was recently selected to serve as a President’s Aide.
Our campus community has faced a series of heartbreaking losses in recent months. Wake Forest offers support and counseling services for all students, faculty and staff who are struggling or just want to talk.
The University Counseling Center may be reached at 336-758-5273 and the Office of the Chaplain may be contacted at 336-758-5210. International students may also contact the Office of Global Programs and Studies at 336-758-5938. Undergraduate students who find it challenging to meet academic obligations should contact the Office of Academic Advising at 336-758-3320. The Employee Assistance Program is available to faculty and staff at 336-716-5493. We encourage anyone having a difficult time to seek support.
The University will share information on services for Zachary when that information is available. In the meantime, let us lean on and support one another during this difficult loss for our entire campus community.
Sincerely,
Nathan O. Hatch
President

 

Contact

To contact the Office of Family Engagement or Family Communications, please visit our contact page.

 

For mental health assistance: 336-758-CARE (2273) is a service that ensures someone will always be available (i.e., 24/7 M-F, weekends and university holidays) to provide caring and thoughtful consultation services for Wake Forest students in need of mental health assistance or support.