Welcome to the first edition of the Dean’s Office Digest newsletter for Spring 2025!
The Digest has a new look but the same goal: to highlight the important work happening across the College and be a central communication resource for what faculty and staff need to know.
Each edition will contain important Dean’s Office announcements, faculty and staff information, technology tips, pedagogy resources, faculty and staff accomplishments, funded research, publications, news, and selected events.
The Digest will be sent out monthly, and previous newsletters will be available in archives on the new Digest website, deansdigest.college.wfu.edu. You can also find a link to the Digest website on the College’s website. Submission forms and publication schedules for both the newsletter and the Digital Screen outside our office in Reynolda 104 are also available on the Digest website.
We are grateful to our friends in University Marketing and Communications and the Wake Forest Technology Accessibility Team in Information Systems for helping us envision a digital and accessible platform for the Digest as we enhance our communications across the College.
So, I invite you to scroll through this January edition and read more about the exciting opportunities underway this semester at Wake Forest!
– Jackie Krasas, Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dean’s Office Announcements
2025 EXPENSE-RELATED POLICY CHANGES
The new Travel, Entertainment, and Business Expense Policy, PCard Manual, and Accounts Payable Disbursement Policy changes are in effect as of Jan. 1, 2025. Key changes include shorter documentation deadlines for expense transactions, a new PCard infraction structure, and an increased no-receipt required threshold for travel-related expenses. Please direct questions to ap@wfu.edu.
FIN104(a) » myworkday.com
FIN104(b) » myworkday.com
FIRST-YEAR FACULTY FOCUS GROUP
The Offices of the Dean of the College and the Provost are interested in the experiences of first-year faculty. Please join us for a one-hour discussion on Monday, Jan. 27, at 3:30 p.m. in Reynolda 104J as we think through future programming for new faculty. We are particularly interested in hearing from those who are brand new to campus and are appreciative of any and all who are willing to share.
Contact Leigh Anne Robinson, wrayla@wfu.edu, to register or receive more information.
2025 SENIOR COLLOQUIUM
The Office of the Dean of the College will present the 2025 Senior Colloquium on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 5 p.m. in Pugh Auditorium.
Since 1869, this remarkable Wake Forest tradition of honoring senior orators elevates the importance of thoughtful public discourse within the university community and beyond. To view this year’s livestream, as well as past orations, please visit the Senior Orations website.
FACULTY FUNDING UPCOMING DEADLINE
The Spring 2025 deadline for Archie, Faculty Development, and Research & Experiential Learning applications as well as Summer Research proposals is Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Plan ahead and submit requests for all funding needed between March-November 2025; the fall deadline is Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
All applications should be submitted electronically to Leigh Anne Robinson, wrayla@wfu.edu, with application, CV, and any supplementary documentation combined into a single PDF.
NAVIGATING THE TENURE TRACK: WORKSHOP FOR ASSISTANT PROFESSORS
The Office of the Dean of the College will welcome Melissa Walker of Heyday Coaching for a one-day “Navigating the Tenure Track” workshop on Friday, Jan. 31, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Benson 401.
The objectives of the workshop include helping faculty members evaluate where they stand on their tenure journey, develop concrete strategies to make appropriate progress toward tenure and promotion, build a supportive cohort network among other untenured faculty, and more.
The day will be broken up into multiple sessions so you may come and go as your schedule allows. Previous participants are welcome.
Contact Leigh Anne Robinson, wrayla@wfu.edu, for more information.
MID-CAREER TEACHER SCHOLARS PROGRAM SET FOR JAN.30
Melissa Walker of Heyday Coaching will also lead the “Spring 2025 Mid-Career Teacher Scholars Program” on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in ZSR 665.
Geared toward Associate Professors, the program consists of a series of workshops to help faculty reflect on their goals and priorities mid-career. In a small group discussion setting, faculty will work on establishing routines and accountability structures that will support and align professional fulfillment with personal balance and well-being.
Contact Leigh Anne Robinson, wrayla@wfu.edu, for more information.
For Faculty & Staff
IMPORTANT TRAVEL UPDATES
United Kingdom – Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
Starting Jan. 8, 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter or transit through the United Kingdom. The ETA is the UK’s travel authorization and pre-departure security process for screening travelers from visa-exempt countries. This ETA will also be required for those transiting through the UK, even if you do not pass through border control. Approvals are expected to be rapid, within three days or faster.
European Union – European Travel Information and Authorization (ETIAS)
Sometime in mid-2025, U.S. and non-EU citizens will be required to secure ETIAS status prior to travel. This system authorizes visa-exempt travelers to be in most European countries. ETA does not apply to the UK or Ireland.
Visit the Global Wake Forest website to access International Travel Forms and more information.
CLASS OFFICE REMINDER: FACULTY PORTAL
The Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success (CLASS) has an online portal that coordinates students’ accommodation notifications. Faculty can go to one place to find all of your students’ accommodations. To access the Faculty Portal, faculty and staff can go online and click on the gold “Faculty Portal.” Login using your WFU login and password.
Please remind students to follow up with you about how accommodations will be implemented in your classrooms. See the CLASS website for FAQs; Training and Resources; and directions for using the Faculty Portal.
UPDATE ON NEAR-TERM CENTRAL SPACE PLANNING
On the first Thursday of each month, Inside Wake Forest will provide an update from the Near-Term Central Space Planning Project:
- Wake Forest’s design partners, Ayers Saint Gross, have analyzed the feedback from the Nov. 19 “How Wake Works” presentation on the Comprehensive Campus Space Plan. ASG has provided summary of feedback from staff and faculty about priorities for campus spaces.
- The committee is currently working on additional space planning engagement opportunities for faculty and staff. More details will be shared in the Inside WFU e-newsletter later this spring as plans are finalized.
- The design of Alumni Hall is going well. It is anticipated that construction will be completed by Summer 2026.
- While a timeline has not yet been established, the earliest moves of impacted departments and programs — Computer Science, Education, Philosophy and the Entrepreneurship program — will likely take place in Summer 2026.
WISE CONFERENCE 2025
Mark your calendar for the annual WISE Conference, a signature event of the Center for Global Programs & Studies, which will be held Feb. 20-22, 2025, on the Reynolda campus.
This internationally recognized conference will consist of 28 sessions on a variety of intercultural topics and is offered at no cost to WFU faculty and staff. Advance registration with a WFU email address is required before Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2025.
Additionally, the GPS Center will offer two Pre-Conference Workshops on topics relevant to global experiential learning.
Contact Sandra McMullen, mcmullsl@wfu.edu, or wiseconference@wfu.edu for more information.
CONSENTCON 2025 REGISTRATION OPEN
ConsentCon 2025 will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from noon to 6 p.m. This year’s keynote speaker is writer Cheyenne Tyler Jacobs, who will engage students, faculty, and staff in a community conversation about consent in pursuit of a campus free of interpersonal violence. Registration is open until 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Please visit the ConsentCon 2025 website for additional information.
BELONGING AND INCLUSION LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
The Belonging and Inclusion Leadership Summit at Wake Forest University will be held on Thursday, March 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Farrell Hall.
The event will bring together professionals from higher education, corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors to explore strategies for fostering belonging and inclusion in workplaces and learning environments.
Registration is open through Wednesday, Feb. 12. Visit the Belonging and Inclusion Leadership Summit website for more details including an agenda, cost, and information on speakers and panel discussions.
WGSS 13TH ANNUAL STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM CALL FOR PAPERS AND MENTORS
The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department is now accepting submissions for the 13th Annual Student Research Symposium. The symposium will be held virtually on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, and will feature keynote speaker Dr. Stephanie Y. Evans.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Guidelines and the link for submission may be found at wgss.wfu.edu. Faculty that are interested in mentoring may send an email to wgs@wfu.edu.
First Five: ZSR Early Career Faculty Workshop Series
ZSR Library is excited to offer a series of workshops for early career faculty. Faculty will learn more about how to collaborate with the library to enhance research and teaching and connect with colleagues across campus. The next workshop is “Demonstrate Your Research Impact” on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in ZSR 665. Lunch will be provided at each workshop. Register online.
Technology & CAT Resources
ADOBE EXPRESS: USER FRIENDLY TOOL TO ENHANCE WORKFLOW
Adobe Express is a versatile, user friendly tool that can enhance your workflow and help you achieve professional results with ease. Whether you’re designing a presentation, manipulating images, or creating a stunning flyer, this platform empowers you to turn ideas into reality. For more details and instructions, please refer to this brief blog post by ITG member Jo Lowe. As always, feel free to reach out to Jo or any ITG member for assistance with all of your technology needs.
CAT BOOK DISCUSSION: MIND OVER MONSTERS
Alarming statistics in recent years indicate that mental health problems have been skyrocketing among youth. In Mind Over Monsters, psychologist and professor Sarah Rose Cavanagh interviews experts who work with young people and highlights voices of college students from a range of diverse backgrounds. The result of these combined sources of inquiry indicates that, to support youth mental health, we must create what Cavanagh calls “compassionate challenge.” Let’s meet and discuss what that might look like.
Meets four times this semester (Feb. 4, Feb. 18, March 4, and March 18) on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. in ZSR 665. Register on the CAT website.
CAT BOOK DISCUSSION: FAILING OUR FUTURE: HOW GRADES HARM STUDENTS, AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT
One of the most urgent and long-standing issues in the U.S. education system is its obsession with grades. In Failing Our Future, Joshua R. Eyler shines a spotlight on how grades inhibit learning; cause problems between parents and children; amplify inequities; and contribute to the youth mental health crisis. Equal parts scathing and hopeful, Failing Our Future aims to improve the lives of students by encouraging them to define success on their own terms.
Meets three times this semester (Feb. 5, Feb. 19, and March 5) on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. in ZSR 665. Register on the CAT website.
CAT COURSE DESIGN INSTITUTE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The CAT will host an in-person, intensive course design program from Monday, May 12, to Friday, May 16, for faculty interested in designing or redesigning a course. The institute will run a full five days (with working time and lunch provided) and require the completion of homework between each session and the opportunity to work together with colleagues from across the University.
The Institute is designed to get you to a final (or near final) syllabus by the end of the week, and participants who successfully complete all Institute requirements will receive a $1,500 stipend.
Please apply on the CAT website by Sunday, April 20, only if you can commit to attending all five days in person.
Books Published
Dr. T.H.M. Gellar-Goad, Professor of Classics. A Commentary on Plautus’ Curculio. University of Michigan Press, 2024.
Dr. Joanna Ruocco, Associate Professor of English. A Shore Thing. Penguin Random House, 2024.
Dr. José Luis Venegas, Professor of Spanish and Interdisciplinary Humanities. Andalucía Sublime: The Image of the South in Contemporary Spanish Culture. Marcial Pons, 2024.
Dr. Kimberly T. Wortmann, Assistant Professor of Religion. Society of the Righteous: Ibadhi Muslim Identity and Transnationalism in Tanzania. Indiana University Press, 2024.
In the News
DR. RUPP AND DR. APPELTOVA USE ARCHIE AWARDS TO ENRICH STUDENTS’ LEARNING
Dr. Sue Rupp, Associate Professor of History, and Dr. Michaela Appeltova, Assistant Professor of History, are dedicated to ensuring students’ exposure to important moments of the past. Read the full story in the WFU 2024 Philanthropy Report.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC’S 2024 CONCERTO COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS
- First Prize: Haozhen Xu, marimba
- Second Prize: Sarah Bo, cello
- Third Prize: Karina Yang, flute
- Honorable Mention: Blythe Green, mezzo-soprano
- Honorable Mention: Jason Zhang, piano
First, second, and third prize winners will perform with the Wake Forest University Symphony Orchestra on Friday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Brendle Recital Hall. All winners will be recognized from the stage and be presented with a certificate at the end of the performance.
DR. DALTON SPEAKS ON LIBERTY EXCHANGE PODCAST
Dr. John T. Dalton, Associate Professor of Economics, discussed his recent book Creative Destruction on the Liberty Exchange Podcast with Jonathan Fortier. Listen to the episode on libertarianism.org.
VICTOR PAUCA, THE INSPIRATION BEHIND VERBAL VICTOR, PASSES AWAY
Victor Pauca, son of Computer Science Professor Paúl Pauca and his wife, Theresa Pauca, passed away on Dec. 13 from complications from pneumonia. He was 19. Victor was one of the first individuals in the world diagnosed with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that makes it difficult to communicate. Professor Pauca and a team of WFU students developed an iPhone/iPad app called Verbal Victor as an affordable alternative to expensive communication devices.
Read more about Verbal Victor in Wake Forest Magazine’s “A Voice for Victor” (2011) and on the University news website’s “Speaking up for People with Disabilities” (2012).
Selected Events
FACULTY AND STAFF AFFINITY EXPERIENCE BREAKFAST
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion would like to invite all faculty and staff in cultivating an inclusive community and culture at Wake Forest University.
Come learn more about the Affinity Resource Groups over breakfast on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 9 a.m. in the Green Room, Reynolda Hall. All WFU employees are welcome!
FOSTERING INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE: RELIGIOUS LITERACY AND DEI IN BUSINESS
The Department for the Study of Religions and the School of Business will host Dr. Neelam Khoja, Senior DEI Specialist at BCG X in New York, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 5 p.m. in ZSR Auditorium as a part of the Study of Religion’s Yeazel Speaker Series. Dr. Khoja holds a Ph.D. in Histories and Cultures of Muslim Societies from Harvard University and has more than a decade of experience in driving impactful diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within corporate and community settings.
CLIFFORD OWENS ARTIST TALK AND OPENING RECEPTION
“Young, Gifted and Black: The Lumpkin-Boccuzzi Family Collection of Contemporary Art” highlights artists of African descent whose work explores identity, politics, and art history. Join Hanes Art Gallery on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m. in Scales 110 for an artist talk by Clifford Owens followed by an opening reception. RSVP on the Hanes Gallery website.
Additional events in Hanes Art Gallery:
- Hanes After Hours on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 5:30 p.m.
- Artist Talk by Tomashi Jackson on Wednesday, March 5, at 5:30 p.m.
- Hanes After Hours on Thursday, March 6, at 5:30 p.m.
2025 TEACHER-SCHOLAR FORUM FEATURING JAMES LANG
Reserve your spot today for the 2025 Teacher-Scholar Forum featuring Notre Dame’s James Lang, author of popular teaching books such as Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning and his newest book (out in April), Write Like You Teach: Taking Your Classroom Skills to a Bigger Audience.
The Forum will take place in Farrell Hall and will include multiple sessions starting on the afternoon of Monday, April 28 and ending on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 29. Sessions will focus on a variety of Lang’s books and will conclude with an “Ask Jim Anything” session facilitated by Assistant Provost and CAT Executive Director, Betsy Barre. A closing reception will wrap up the event. Register on the CAT website.
DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE HEADED TO STAGE
Directed by Brook Davis, Professor of Theatre, Dead Man’s Cell Phone examines our connections, our disconnections, and how our lives have changed as we navigate a piece of technology that follows us everywhere, all the time. Join the Department of Theatre for a whimsical look at humanity, technology, and the life-altering importance of a good bowl of lobster bisque. Performances will be Feb. 7-8 and 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. in the Ring Theatre, Scales Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 senior citizens, and $10 students.
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January 31, 2025 | 10:00am
Lam Museum of AnthropologyHome explores the many ways in which the concept of "home" is constructed across cultures. Curated by Wake Forest students in a First-Year Seminar, the exhibition showcases artifacts from the collection that reflect the physical and conceptual diversity of homes around the world. In addition to these global … -
January 31, 2025 | 10:00am
Lam Museum of AnthropologyColors have many symbolic meanings in East Asian fashion. This exhibit features clothing from China and Japan organized by the five basic colors of black, red, green-blue, white, and yellow. These colors are traditionally associated with the elements of water, fire, wood, metal, and earth, respectively. Originating in the mythical … -
January 31, 2025 | 4:00pm
Benson University CenterFirst-in-Flight, the community for first-generation students, presents Ace That Interview. Are you gearing up for RA interviews? Or just want to sharpen your interview skills? Join First-in-Flight for a hands-on mock interview event! Practice with peers, get personalized feedback, and walk into your interviews with confidence! What you’ll … -
January 31, 2025 | 4:00pm
WakerSpace Building (Located in Lot Q)The Pi Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is hosting a make your own vision board event for the students at Wake Forest University. -
January 31, 2025 | 5:00pm
Farrell HallThe OPCD and Department of Art are collaborating to bring an exhibition of paintings to the Brockway Recruiting Center. This exhibition showcases the paintings created by the talented students of Painting 2 and Painting 3 at Wake Forest. These works reflect an exploration of memory, dreams, and the passage of time, … -
January 31, 2025 | 9:00pm
Benson University CenterJoin the Student Union for aWake All night! Satte-lite the night with nebula-s games, music, food, and drinks on Friday, Jan. 31, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Stop by a moon-ute and test your stars by entering raffle to win cup warmers, movie tickets, picnic baskets, and LEGO sets.&…
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