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Nominations for Commencement Speaker 2017

by Betsy Chapman

The following email was sent to the campus community from the Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee.

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 2017 Commencement speaker. As we begin this exciting task, we look to you to provide us with speaker nominations for Commencement 2017.

Please submit your suggestions to CSAC@wfu.edu by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 .  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 2017’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, Chair

Millicent Hennessey, Wake Forest Fellow, Office of the President

Geni Holmes, Executive Director, University Events

Melissa Jenkins, Associate Professor of English

Jordan Monaghan, President, Student Government

Harold Pace, Assistant Provost and University Registrar

Paul Pauca, Associate Professor of Computer Science

Samantha Perrotta Turner, Event and Project Manager, Office of the Provost

Mary Pugel, Chief of Staff, Office of the President

Sarah Rudasill, Student Trustee

TJ Smith, Wake Forest Fellow, Office of the Provost

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. You can also visit we.wfu.edu for resources.