The final weeks of the Fall 2025 semester are here, bringing focused preparation for final exams and opportunities to enjoy festive activities before the holidays. With finals on the horizon, please remind students of CLASS’ academic coaching and peer tutoring resources. The faculty portal allows faculty to view updates to students’ accommodations as well.
The space planning process continues with pop-up sessions on December 2nd and 3rd, offering faculty and staff a chance to share ideas for campus space improvements. These sessions build on recent successes, such as the newly renovated Carswell Hall, which has already benefited 74 faculty and 100 classes with its 11 general-use classrooms now well-suited for collaborative work. We are thrilled to see how the renovated spaces will continue to enhance our academic community.
As always, thank you for your dedication to your scholarly work and to your students. We wish you a joyful upcoming winter break.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dean’s Office Announcements
SPACE PLANNING POP-UP SESSIONS
Faculty, staff, and students are invited to the upcoming Bicentennial Space Plan Pop-Up Sessions to participate in the campus planning process. At these sessions, you will: see example images of potential improvements to campus; vote on your favorite images to help the planning team understand the campus community’s design preferences; and review the draft planning principles that inform space planning efforts.
The first session will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Manchester Plaza fire pit, with a rain location by the Benson Food Court vendor tables. The second session will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Benson Center Food Court vendor tables. Feel free to drop by and share your thoughts!
COLLEGE FACULTY MEETING
The next College Faculty Meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 8, at 3:30 p.m. with a hybrid format in Broyhill Auditorium and online via the Zoom link that will be sent prior.
CORE CURRICULUM DATA REMINDER
Faculty who have been randomly selected to provide Fall 2025 core curriculum rubric data are reminded to submit their information through Canvas by Wednesday, Dec.17, 2025. Please contact Laura Crist, cristl@wfu.edu, with questions.
NOMINATE STUDENTS FOR THE RICHTER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Richter Scholarship Program provides undergraduate students with scholarship funding to conduct independent research abroad over the Summer terms. Scholarship recipients will receive up to $6,000 to cover travel, accommodation, food, and research activities. Projects can be from any discipline and should be developed with a faculty mentor.
Applications will open Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, and are due Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Visit the URECA Center website or email richterscholars@wfu.edu for more information.
URECA FACULTY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MENTORED SCHOLARSHIP
Each year, URECA recognizes at least two faculty members from across the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences who have distinguished themselves as excellent mentors of Wake Forest undergraduate scholars. Nomination guidelines and deadlines are located on the URECA website, along with a link to the nomination form.
FACULTY FELLOWS APPLICATION TO OPEN IN JANUARY
The Provost’s Office and the Office of the Dean of the College invite faculty to consider becoming a Faculty Fellow. A Faculty Fellow works in an interdisciplinary team, affiliated with a first-year residential community, and collaborates with Residence Life and Housing staff to support faculty-student engagement and foster belonging where students live. If you have a strong interest in student-faculty engagement and first-year students, we encourage you to inquire. Want to know more? Reach out to Nikki Elston, elstonnc@wfu.edu.
For Faculty & Staff
CLASS OFFERS RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS PREPARE FOR FINALS
CLASS is available to help your students plan their studying for final exams or provide test anxiety reduction strategies through Academic Coaching. Peer Tutoring is available for content support through Friday, Dec. 5, 2026. Students can sign up for both services through the CLASS website.
Please remind students to make sure accommodation plans, such as extended time, are in place before finals week. Students can reach out to the office with questions. Faculty can check the CLASS Faculty Portal to get an updated list of students with accommodations in their classes.
FACULTY: EXPLORE CAMPUS ENGAGED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Are you a faculty member interested in incorporating sustainability guest lectures, campus tours, or place-based projects into your courses? Contact Krista Stump, stumpk@wfu.edu, to schedule a Campus Engaged Learning consultation to help identify and plan engagements that fit your learning outcomes and connect you with the campus resources to bring them to life.
DEACS AGAINST HUNGER
Looking for ways to support students making a difference this holiday season? With support from the Office of Civic & Community Engagement, Student Government, Alpha Phi Omega, Volunteer Service Corps, and PHASE, students are leading a collective effort to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. Faculty and staff can help by donating through the Virtual Food Drive, sponsoring or filling a donation box with non-perishable items alongside your department, or providing direct service with Second Harvest Food Bank. Every hour, item, and dollar helps bring food, care, and hope to neighbors in need.
PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS AVAILABLE FOR FACULTY AND STAFF
Studio-quality headshots are available at no cost to Wake Forest faculty and staff on the second Wednesday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon at the University Corporate Center. Appointments are required.
Technology
TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING RESOURCES
Faculty and staff can request a live accessibility training session as an individual or for a group to discuss any technology accessibility concerns, challenges, or questions related to digital content. Use this Google Form to request a consultation. Visit the Technology Accessibility at Wake website for more accessibility-related resources.
AI CAFÉ: VIRTUAL SESSION IN NOVEMBER
Information Systems invites faculty and staff to join the next session of the AI Café series, a valuable monthly forum designed for cross-disciplinary exchange on artificial intelligence. Whether you’re an AI wiz or just curious to learn, join colleagues for this casual meetup. The next AI Café will be held virtually on Friday, Nov. 21, from 9 to 10 a.m. via Zoom. Please encourage your faculty and staff to save the date and join the conversation.
Visit the Information Systems website to learn about upcoming AI Café events.
ACCESSIBILITY IN ACTION: LIVE TRAINING SERIES
Tab Groups is a built-in feature of the Chrome browser that allows you to organize, label, and color-code your open tabs into categories for easy access. By clicking on a group, you can open all of your tabs in your browser at once, and when you are done, simply close the category. All open tabs in that category will collapse and will be located in a convenient drop-down list to the left of your bookmarks bar. You may even find that your machine is faster and more responsive since your browser is no longer cluttered with open tabs. Check out the new ITG post on how to get started with Chrome Tab Groups.
CAT Resources
APPLICATION FOR 2026 COURSE DESIGN INSTITUE NOW OPEN
This year, the CAT will host their annual Course Design Institute from May 11 to May 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This in-person, intensive course design program is for faculty interested in designing or redesigning a course. The institute will run a full 5 days (with working time and lunch provided) and require the completion of homework between each session. You will have the opportunity to work together with colleagues from across the University, and the goal is to get you to a final (or near final) syllabus by the end of the week. Participants who successfully complete all Institute requirements will receive a $1,500 stipend. Please apply only if you can commit to attending all five days in person. Applications are due by Sunday, April 19, and a lottery will be held on Monday, April 20, to select 30 participants from the pool of complete applications.
THANK A COLLEAGUE
As we near the end of the semester, the Center for the Advancement of Teaching invites you to participate in their Thank a Colleague program as a way to recognize your colleagues’ efforts. You fill out a short online form, and the CAT compiles and forwards the responses along to recipients at the end of the semester. Please submit your notes of gratitude by Dec. 13. Visit the Program & Services page on the CAT website for more information.
Research Funded
Dr. Daniel Kim-Shapiro, Harbert Family Distinguished Chair of Physics, received funding from NIH / University of Maryland for “Antidote for Inhaled CO Poisoning Based on Mutationally Engineered Neuroglobin.”
Dr. Sarah Lotspeich, Assistant Professor of Statistical Sciences, received funding from NIH / WFU Health Sciences for “Hybrid Trial of Peer-Delivered Affect Regulation and Contingency Management to Optimize HIV Prevention for Women Who Inject Drugs in the South.”
Dr. Saami Yazdani, Professor of Engineering, received funding from NIH / The Ohio State University for “A Retrievable, Chambered Stentgraft to Achieve Localized, High Intensity Drug Delivery for Treatment of Vascular Restenosis.”
For more faculty funding, visit Inside WFU.
Publications
Book Published
Dr. Frederick Chen, Professor of Economics, and Michael ’t Sas-Rolfes. The Economics of the Wildlife Trade: Theory and Implications for Conservation. Taylor and Francis, 2025.
Article Published
Dr. Ying Zhang, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, and others. “How Can ChatGPT Support Human Security Testers to Help Mitigate Supply Chain Attacks?” IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 2025.
In the News
JIM BAREFIELD, RETIRED PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, PASSES AWAY
Professor Emeritus of History Jim Barefield passed away on Oct. 28, 2025, in Winston-Salem. Dr. Barefield taught in the History Department from 1963 to 2004 and mentored many students and colleagues. We are saddened at this loss and offer condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, former students, and all those whose lives Dr. Barefied touched.
You can read the full obituary online.
DR. CASHWELL RECEIVES OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD
Dr. Tammy Cashwell, Associate Teaching Professor of Counseling, received the Outstanding Teaching Award from the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, which represents counselor educators from across the country.
DR. LANZONI ORGANIZES ITALIAN STUDIES CONFERENCE IN VENICE
Dr. Rémi Lanzoni, Professor of Italian and Director of Italian Studies, organized the international conference “Italian Society in the Light of the Vatican and Politics” at Casa Artom in Venice, Italy. The event explored the complex relationship between Catholicism, religion, and modern Italian society. Co-sponsors of the conference included: The Provost’s Office, the Office of the Dean of the College, the Program for Leadership and Character, the Jorizzo Family Funds, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the WFU Humanities Institute.
STRUBLE TALKS AI AND ACCESSIBILITY ON NATIONAL EDUCAUSE PODCAST
Wake Forest’s Director of Technology Accessibility, Eudora Struble, was recently featured in an EDUCAUSE “Exchange” episode, “Will AI Close Accessibility Gaps or Widen Them?” The discussion explores the critical intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and accessibility gaps.
For more of Eudora’s insights on this critical topic, listen to her recent appearance on the Deacs.AI podcast episode, “Remember to Add the Blueberries BEFORE Baking the Muffins.”
Selected Events
TURKEYPALOOZA 2025
Join Wake Forest Campus Kitchen for their biggest feast of the year! From now until Saturday, Nov. 22, faculty, staff, and students will prepare and deliver over 600 scratch-made Thanksgiving meals to support our Winston-Salem neighbors.
No cooking experience? No problem! Sign up for a volunteer shift that fits your schedule.
Can’t volunteer? You can still make an impact by donating to help us reach our $4,000 goal. Every dollar goes toward turkeys, fresh produce, and all the fixings—from stuffing and casseroles to our famous pumpkin cookies: Donate online and help Campus Kitchen bring warmth, care, and holiday cheer to our community!
CENTER FOR FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS TO HOST 3RD ANNUAL RESEARCH DAY
The Center for Functional Materials invites the Wake Forest community to attend the 3rd annual CFM Research Day on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Benson 401. Research Day provides a space for faculty, postdocs, and students to share their current work, discuss new tools and techniques, and identify potential interdisciplinary collaborations. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome.
FALL FACULTY & GUEST ARTIST CONCERT
The Fall Faculty & Guest Artist Concert will feature modern, jazz, contemporary and classical ballet choreography by our dance faculty and renowned guest choreographers, under the direction of Nina Lucas Rice. This fall, faculty choreographers include Chris Martin, Tina Yarborough Liggins, Christina Soriano, Nina Lucas Rice, Chelsea Hilding, Sam Shapiro, and Enrique Rosario, and more than 40 WFU dancers.
Performances will be Thursday, Nov. 20, through Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. on the Tedford Stage.
LIGHTING OF THE QUAD
On Monday, Dec. 1, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., gather on Hearn Plaza for one of Wake Forest’s most cherished traditions — Lighting of the Quad. Enjoy music, lights, and community cheer as the Quad glows with holiday spirit. This year’s celebration also embraces Pro Humanitate through a giving initiative supporting Kimberly Park Elementary. Faculty and staff are invited to donate classroom supplies or select items from the school’s Amazon wish list, sharing the light of the season and making a meaningful impact for our community.
FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION: THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM
On Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m., a/perture cinema will show a free screening of Theirs is the Kingdom, a 60-minute documentary film directed by WFU Documentary Film Program Director Chris Zaluski. The film follows the rare creation of a contemporary fresco mural inside the sanctuary of a small church in Asheville, examining the intersection between poverty and portraiture.
2026 MLK READ-IN
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service and learning at the annual MLK Read-In on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Winston-Salem State University. This family-friendly event pairs local children (K–5th grade) with “Reading Buddies” — Wake Forest, Winston-Salem State, and UNCSA student volunteers — for fun literacy activities and inspiring stories about community and justice. Each child will take home two new books: one age-appropriate and one focused on civil rights.
Members of the WFU community are encouraged to bring their children and join this day of connection and community impact. Register online.
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December 6, 2025Fall 2025 Academic Calendar: Important dates and deadlines for the Wake Forest College (Undergraduate College) and School of Business undergraduate programs. Please visit the RegistrarÕs Office website at registrar.wfu.edu/calendars/ for the most up-to-date academic calendar information and exam schedules. -
December 6, 2025
Kentner StadiumWake Forest University Track and Field hosts the Winston-Salem College Kickoff at Kentner Stadium. -
December 6, 2025
Boston, MAWake Forest University Track and Field at Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener Streaming Video: https://www.flotrack.org/signup?redirect=%2Flive%2F195016&utm_campaign=429056sharoncolyearda&utm_medium=partner&utm_source=participatingteams&utm_content=signup&contract_id=0063m00000ogik6aai&coverage_id=14478754 https://godeacs.com/calendar.aspx?game_id=14477&sport_id=12 -
December 6, 2025 | 10:00am
Lam Museum of AnthropologyDía de Muertos is a festive time when families remember their dead and honor the continuity of life. The celebration has roots in both ancient pre-Hispanic celebrations and medieval Spanish Catholic practices and has evolved to feature a blend of elements from both traditions. In its 30th … -
December 6, 2025 | 6:00pm
Charleston, W.Va.Wake Forest University Men’s Basketball vs West Virginia TV: ESPN2 Streaming Video: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/9be96d8a-688f-4da1-9348-34b294535de2 Streaming Audio: https://godeacs.com/showcase?Live=1324 Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/holiday-hoopfest-charleston-west-virginia-12-06-2025/event/160062EF96482531 https://godeacs.com/calendar.aspx?… -
December 6, 2025 | 6:30pm
Reynolda HallCelebrate the launch (and pick up a copy) of the Magnolia – the student run Arts & Culture Magazine, presented by the Old Gold & Black. With food, friends and a lot of cool people, it’s surely to be the event of the year. As you know – before it’s in Vogue, …
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