The tulips around campus are in full bloom, adding a welcome brightness and a reminder of warmer days to come. In that spirit, we have many engaging events to look forward to in the coming weeks, beginning with the 26th annual Poteat Lecture featuring Dr. Christa Colyer on Thursday, April 2. We also look ahead to the second annual Teacher-Scholar Forum, which will explore Wake Forest’s new framework for experiential learning.
In addition to our upcoming programming, the Office of the Dean of the College is delighted to welcome Dr. Debbie French, Associate Professor of Science Education, Bitove Family Faculty Fellow, and Interim Director of the Environment and Sustainability Studies Program, as the new Director of the Instructional Technology Group (ITG) effective July 1. We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Adam Friedman for leading the ITG with distinction for two consecutive terms as director.
You can read Dr. French’s full announcement on the College website, and registration information for the Poteat Lecture and the Teacher-Scholar Forum is available in this edition.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dean’s Office Announcements
DR. CHRISTA COLYER TO GIVE 2026 POTEAT LECTURE
Dr. Christa Colyer, James and Courtenay Harton Faculty Fellow for Chemical Industry, Professor of Chemistry, & Worrell House Program Director, has been selected to give the 2026 Hubert McNeill Poteat Lecture. The lecture, “Beyond Measure: Chemical Analysis in a Complex World,” will be held on Thursday, April 2, at 4 p.m. in the ZSR Auditorium. Light refreshments to follow. Register online.
DR. DEBBIE FRENCH ANNOUNCED AS NEW ITG DIRECTOR
The Dean’s Office has announced that Debbie French, Associate Professor of Science Education, Bitove Family Faculty Fellow, and Interim Director of the Environment and Sustainability Studies Program, will be the next Director of the Instructional Technology Group, starting July 1, 2026. We also want to express our deep gratitude to Adam Friedman, who has led the ITG with distinction for two consecutive terms as director. Read the full announcement on the College website.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: CBOV LEADERSHIP AWARDS FOR FACULTY AND STAFF
The College Board of Visitors sponsors an annual award to recognize outstanding academic leadership by faculty and staff.
Each year, this award recognizes one faculty member and one staff member who are committed to our institutional vision, which includes a dedication to academic and inclusive excellence, workplace innovation, and educating the whole student. Learn more about the nomination guidelines on the College website.
Nominations for both awards are due to Sandy Kokkonos by Friday, May 29, 2026.
COLLEGE FACULTY MEETING
The next College Faculty Meeting will be on Monday, April 13, at 3:30 p.m. with a hybrid format in Broyhill Auditorium and online via the Zoom link that will be sent prior.
CALL FOR FACULTY FELLOWS AY26-28
The Provost’s Office and the Office of the Dean of the College invite applications from faculty across Wake Forest schools and the College to become AY26-28 Faculty Fellows. Additional information can be found via this PDF.
Application deadline: Friday, April 17, 2026. Contact Nikki Elston, Assistant Dean, Office of Academic Advising, at elstonnc@wfu.edu with questions.
SPACE PLANNING UPDATES
UPCOMING: BCCSP WORKSHOPS FOR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
The BCCSP (Bicentennial Space Plan) will be hosting two workshop pop-ups to gather community feedback:
- Wednesday, April 15, Mag Quad Big Firepit (between Tribble and Benson), from 5-6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, April 16, Outside the Pit (Reynolda Hall), from 12-1:30 p.m.
ALUMNI HALL PROGRESS AND UPCOMING RENOVATIONS
Alumni Hall
Alumni Hall renovation continues and is on track for summer completion to support Fall 2026 classes and students, faculty, and staff in Computer Science, Education, Entrepreneurship, and Philosophy. Most recently, all three of the building’s skylights were delivered and installed.
Visit the Alumni Hall Relocation Guide on the College website to follow along with the latest renovation updates.
Upcoming Renovations
As part of our commitment to annual learning spaces renewal — and thanks to Facilities and the Provost’s Office funding — we will renovate about a dozen College general use classrooms and teaching labs in Worrell, Greene, and Olin halls this summer.
The College is working with Facilities and our departments and programs to update the Near-Term Space Plan in light of enrollment growth.
For Faculty & Staff
WORKSHOPS ON WRITING FOR THE CONVERSATION MARCH 31 AND APRIL 1
If you are interested in learning more about sharing your expertise and research with a wider audience, the Wake Forest news team and the Provost’s Office will host a senior editor from The Conversation to work with you to develop article ideas based on your scholarship.
The Conversation, a nonprofit news outlet, gives faculty an opportunity to provide informed perspectives on important and interesting topics in articles that are often republished in major news outlets, including the Washington Post, CNN and Fast Company. Fifty-two Wake Forest faculty have written articles viewed by more than three million readers.
Maggie Villiger, a senior editor at The Conversation, will be at Wake Forest on Tuesday, March 31, and Wednesday, April 1. Join one of the group workshops or sign up for office hours to brainstorm article ideas on scholarly work from any discipline.
Email media@wfu.edu for a full schedule and sign-up information.
CULTIVATE PROGRAM NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Applications for the 2026-2027 CULTIVATE program are now open. CULTIVATE provides structured, tailored support for the scholar component of the teacher-scholar ideal as faculty develop external funding proposals to further their research and scholarship. Programming includes one-on-one consultations, support for proposal development, and discipline-specific quality circles. Apply online.
Applications submitted by Friday, May 1, 2026 will receive priority consideration. Please contact Erin Henslee, Associate Professor of Engineering, hensleea@wfu.edu or Mary Muchane, Assistant Provost for Scholarly Development, muchanm@wfu.edu with questions.
ZSR LIBRARY WORKSHOPS
ZSR FIRST FIVE: EARLY CAREER FACULTY WORKSHOP SERIES
Are you in your first five years at WFU? Join ZSR Library for the upcoming workshop to connect with colleagues and learn more about how librarians can support your research. Lunch is provided.
- Zotero Power Moves: Smarter Workflows for PDFs, Notes, and Citation, on Wednesday, April 8, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., ZSR 665
Learn more and register online.
FACULTY WORKSHOP: AI TOOLS FOR RESEARCH
Curious how you or your students could use AI tools for scholarly research? On Friday, April 10, from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., in ZSR 476, ZSR Library will host a collaborative, hands-on workshop for faculty to explore tools that aid in the discovery of relevant literature for literature reviews, including Scite.ai, Consensus, and Google Scholar Labs. Faculty will also explore how NotebookLM can be used to support synthesis, The workshop will close with a brainstorming session on the implications of these tools for student research. Librarians will be on hand to provide guidance and answer questions. Register on the ZSR Library website.
BETTER TOOLS FOR YOUR STUDENT WORKER SEARCH
HR’s new Learn and Earn job board and refreshed webpages simplify hiring for supervisors and finding work for students. Upcoming education sessions will help faculty with existing hiring practices — as well as those with no system for seeking student employees — to navigate the employment hub and follow the new standard hiring practice. Visit the Human Resources website to learn more.
UPDATES FROM CLASS FOR SPRING 2026
CLASS Café
Celebrate the Spring Semester with CLASS by partaking in seasonal treats and fun conversation on Wednesday, April 22, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Hearn Plaza. Delta Alpha Pi, an academic honor society founded to recognize high-achieving students with disabilities, will present the 2026 Accessibility Champion Award to honor a faculty or staff member who demonstrates leadership in advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities. Remarks will begin at 3:30 p.m. This event is open to all faculty, staff, and students.
Supporting Student Success
If you have students who would like to improve upon their academic performance, now is a great time to schedule with a peer tutor or meet with an academic coach. The last day of the regular tutoring schedule ends on Wednesday, April 29. Limited tutoring is available during finals. Academic coaching is available through finals. Please refer to the CLASS website for how to sign up for a peer tutor or academic coaching.
Test Proctoring Updates
Faculty who have exhausted all in-department options may schedule testing with the CLASS Testing Center in ZSR 231, which has a limited number of seats. Exams proctored by CLASS must be scheduled by the student 3 business days before the exam. Faculty will need to bring paper copies of exams to the CLASS office no later than two days prior to the scheduled exam for any confirmed tests scheduled with the Testing Center. The Testing Center will not accept email copies of the exam.
*A special note about Final Exams: Final exams proctored by CLASS must be scheduled by the student by Thursday, April 30. This is the last day final exam requests will be accepted. Questions regarding the testing center can be directed to testctr@wfu.edu. Updated test proctoring procedures can be found on the CLASS website.
Technology
CANVAS DOCVIEWER: TWO WORKFLOW IDEAS
You may already be using Canvas DocViewer to add annotated comments to your students’ submissions, but here are two additional workflows you may not have considered:
- DocViewer also works for image files. Students can handwrite an essay or draw a diagram, take a photo of it, and submit. You can then annotate on the image.
- Students can annotate their own document. For example, once students submit their document of responses to your questions, you post the correct answers, then they go back and annotate their own document, commenting on what they did well or what could use improvement.
Check out ITG Suzanne Thompson’s Tech Tip for details, links, and steps you can copy and modify for your class. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to Suzanne or any ITG for all of your technology needs.
CAT Resources
CAT COURSE DESIGN INSTITUTE APPLICATION NOW OPEN
This spring, the CAT will host an in-person, intensive course design program 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. You will have 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.
Applications are due by Sunday, April 19, and a lottery will be held on Monday, April 20 to select 30 participants to receive a stipend for participation from the pool of complete applications. Register on the CAT website.
TEACHER-SCHOLAR FORUM REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Wake Forest will host the second annual Teacher-Scholar Forum on Friday, May 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Farrell Hall. This year’s Forum, sponsored by the Office of the Provost and supported by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching, will explore experiential learning. View the conference schedule and register online.
Please register as soon as possible, as seating will be limited. Timely registration will also help the CAT anticipate demand, secure appropriately sized rooms, and order the right amount of food. If you have any questions or are interested in volunteer opportunities for this event, please email Megan Hobbs at mhobbs@wfu.edu.
THE LANGUAGE EXCHANGE: A SHARING SESSION ON ASSESSMENT DESIGN
Following the momentum of CAT’s recent AI discussions, please join faculty from across the World Language programs for a collaborative sharing session on Wednesday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to noon in the ZSR Faculty Commons, Classroom 665. As we wrap up the semester, the CAT invites you to a roundtable discussion to share new assessment designs developed as part of the Spanish Department’s curriculum review and lessons learned from our recent classes.
This is a space to celebrate our collective expertise, exchange innovative ideas, and kickstart a new tradition of cross-language collaboration at Wake Forest. We look forward to seeing the diverse ways our programs are evolving! This session will be facilitated by Daniel Jung, Lauren Miller, and Rebekah Morris. Register on the CAT website.
Research Funded
Dr. David Carroll, Professor of Physics, received a contract from Quoherent for “Phase II SBIR: AF 20 qubits phase II.”
Dr. Wayne Pratt, Professor of Psychology, received funding from Psi Chi for “Motivation in the Face of Loss: A Novel Operant Paradigm for Investigating.”
Dr. Cedric Schaak, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, received an NSF CAREER Award of $687,000 for “Pi-Conjugated Allene Polymers as Conformationally and Electronically Switchable Chiral Materials.”
Read the story on the Wake Forest News website.
For more faculty funding, visit Inside WFU.
Publications
Dr. Melissa Maffeo, Associate Teaching Professor of Psychology, Science of the Supernatural. Cambridge University Press, 2026.
Dr. Maffeo spoke with the Dean’s Office about her publication and the research that went into the project. Read the Q&A on the College website.
In the News
DR.GRYBUSH RECOGNIZED FOR NCCA LEADERSHIP
Dr. Amy Grybush, Assistant Professor of Counseling, received the Professional Writing and Research Award from the North Carolina Counseling Association. Additionally, the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling of North Carolina (ACAC-NC) — the NCCA division that Dr. Grybush serves as Past President — also received the Most Improved Division Award from the NCCA.
DR. KING NAMED AAAS FELLOW
Dr. Bruce King, Thurman D. Kitchin Professor of Chemistry, was named a 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific societies and a leading research publisher through their collection of Science journals. The title of an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor, reserved for individuals who have been members of AAAS for at least four consecutive years and whose work inspires and celebrates scientific excellence. Read the full announcement on the College website.
DR. MESSIER FEATURED IN NEWEST FACULTY EXPERT VIDEO
Dr. Steve Messier, Professor of Health and Exercise Science and Director of the J.B. Snow Biomechanics Laboratory, was recently featured on the “On Topic: Faculty Experts” series, where he discusses his decades-long research on knee pain and knee osteoarthritis treatment. Watch the video on the Wake Forest News website.
17 CHAMPION OF CHANGE AWARDEES CELEBRATED AT ANNUAL CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
A record number of 17 awardees were honored for their outstanding contributions to Wake Forest sustainability across seven categories: Embodying the Mission, Activating the Vision, Cultural Catalyst, Emerging Leader, Spark of Change, Everyday Champion, and Enduring Change.
Read the full story on the Office of Sustainability website.
Selected Events
WAKE THE ARTS PRESENTS HALF THE SKY: YIN MEI DANCE
Renowned dancer and choreographer Yin Mei presents her latest work, Half the Sky, on March 31, at 7:30 p.m. in Brendle Recital Hall. The performance features an evening-length dance and visual performance rooted in the language of the body, responding to enduring mythologies surrounding women across generations. It features Marie Lloyd Paspe, Ching-I Chang, Miho Ryu, and Yin Mei, with a music score created and performed by composer/sound designer Christian Frederickson. Visit the Wake the Arts website to learn more about the event.
CELEBRATE SPRING WITH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
Welcome spring at Wake Forest with events, written reflections, and opportunities to turn your screen time into green time. With this year’s campuswide celebration, take moments to connect with nature and feel moments of wonder, interconnectedness, and experience shifts in perspective throughout the season. Visit the Office of Sustainability’s website to learn more and get involved. Join an upcoming event, submit your own, or share your reflection for a chance to be featured in their social media series. Email sustainability@wfu.edu with questions.
HES DEPARTMENT TO HOST FIRST ANNUAL W. JACK REJESKI DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
The Department of Health & Exercise Science invites you to the first annual W. Jack Rejeski Distinguished Lecture Series on Thursday, April 2, at 3:30 p.m. in the Porter Byrum Welcome Center.
Guest lecturer Dr. Paul Laurienti, Professor of Radiology at Wake Forest School of Medicine, will be sharing insights on “Spatial Disorder in the Aging Brain.” This event is open to everyone — students, faculty, staff, and community members are all encouraged to attend. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and be part of this special inaugural event honoring HES Professor Emeritus, Dr. Jack Rejeski.
WFU THEATRE TO PRESENT ALANIS MORISSETTE’S JAGGED LITTLE PILL: THE MUSICAL
Drawn from Alanis Morissette’s 1995 Grammy-winning album, this Tony-award-winning musical delves into the contradictory nature of being a contemporary American family — its rawness, messiness, and hope. This redemptive musical follows the seemingly perfect Healy family as their lives unravel, revealing truths about addiction, trauma, identity, and love. Showtimes are April 3-4 and 8-11 at 7:30 p.m. and April 12 at 2 p.m. in the Tedford Stage, Scales Fine Arts Center. Purchase tickets online.
INAUGURAL FRIENDS OF ECONOMICS LECTURE SERIES FEATURING MIT SHAH
Join the Department of Economic for the Inaugural Friends of Economic Lecture series featuring guest speaker, Mit Shah, CEO of Noble Investment Group. The lecture will take place on Monday, April 6, at 3:30 p.m. in Kirby B02.
BOOK TALK WITH DR. MARK VAIL
Join the Department of Politics and International Affairs for a book talk by Dr. Mark Vail, Worrell Professor of Politics, on Tuesday, April 7, at 4 p.m. in Manchester 018. Dr. Vail will discuss his new book, The Hobbled State: Fractured Politics in Contemporary Germany.
ARCHERY AFTERNOON AT THE LAM
Visit the Lam Museum of Anthropology on Saturday, April 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. for Archery Afternoon at the Lam! Explore the world of archery through shooting and flintknapping demonstrations and archery-inspired crafts and games for all ages. This event is offered in conjunction with the exhibit “Archery: Hunting, Warfare and Identity.” Admission is free.
*Please DO NOT bring your own archery equipment to this event. Only pre-approved archery groups will be conducting demonstrations.
HUMANITIES INSTITUTE: UPCOMING EVENTS
On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. in Scales 102, Wake Forest will host a live immersive audio show by Chris Hoff and Sam Harnett of The World According to Sound Project. With co-sponsorship from Wake the Arts; University Marketing and Communications; and the Departments of Art, English, History, Journalism, Religious Studies, and Philosophy, the Ways of Knowing show offers a close listening experience that transforms humanistic knowledge into “soundscapes that challenge you to rethink the world through your ears instead of your eyes.” This is a fantastic event for faculty, staff, and students to experience scholarship in an entirely new way; tickets are free and available online.
On April 29-30, the HI will hold its 15th Annual Symposium, featuring a keynote lecture by Dr. Matt Seybold, on Wednesday, 29 April, at 5 p.m in ZSR 404. Associate Professor of American Literature and Media Studies at Elmira College, Dr. Seybold is the producer and host of The American Vandal Podcast out of the Center for Mark Twain Studies.
On the afternoon of Thursday, April 30, the Spring Humanities Symposium will continue with a luncheon showcasing the work of our Summer 2025 Writing Grant recipients.
Contact Aimee Mepham, mephamam@wfu.edu, for more information.
PHILOSOPHY FORUM FEATURING WILL CONNER
The Department of Philosophy will welcome Will Conner, Teaching Assistant Professor of Philosophy from UNC Chapel Hill, to present his talk “Stewarding the Epistemic Commons: Collective Action and the Ethics of Belief” on Thursday, April 16, at 5 p.m. in Tribble Hall, B316. Visit the Department of Philosophy website for a detailed abstract along with more information about the department’s speaker series.
STUDENT ART EXHIBITION: BOTANICAL BRIDGES
Information Systems is pleased to host Botanical Bridges: Observation and Invention, an art exhibit featuring student works from Professor Lydia Smith’s Spring 2026 Life Drawing (ART 218) class. Inspired by the Wake Forest University Herbarium and its intriguing collection of plant specimens, Professor Smith’s students created and personally framed each of the twenty-four watercolor and colored pencil drawings in the exhibition. Through a Wake The Arts grant-funded initiative, the works are on view now at The Bridge (atrium level of ZSR) through Spring 2027. An opening reception will be held on Friday, April 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Bridge.
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April 1, 2026 | 9:00am
Worrell Professional CenterJoin LLSA and JLSA in the Commons on Wednesday, April 1 from 9 AM to 12 PM for a Cuban Coffee Bar to help you recharge and get ready for finals. Stop by for a cup of Cuban coffee and babka, connect with classmates, and take a short break before the end-of-semester rush. -
April 1, 2026 | 10:00am
Lam Museum of AnthropologyThis exhibition highlights the global significance of archery, focusing on its traditional uses across cultures. From hunting tools and weapons of war to ceremonial objects and artistic works, the bow and arrow occupy many roles in cultures around the world. The objects on display reveal how materials, environments, and values … -
April 1, 2026 | 10:00am
Lam Museum of AnthropologyMany objects in museum collections around the world were taken unethically from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. Though some objects have been returned in order to address colonial histories and honor cultural practices today, neither museums nor indigenous communities are able to repatriate everything–nor do … -
April 1, 2026 | 12:00pm
Worrell Professional CenterJoin the Veterans Advocacy Legal Organization for a discussion with Wake Law alumni who have served as Judge Advocates (JAGs) across various military branches. Our panelists—some currently serving and others now in private practice—will share insights on their experiences in the JAG Corps, transitioning between … -
April 1, 2026 | 12:00pm
Worrell Professional CenterTraining for a Pro Bono project that will be held with Project X, a local nonprofit. We will be visiting Project X and doing a Know Your Rights Presentation for the kids in their program. Many of these kids are at risk of being involved in the criminal legal … -
April 1, 2026 | 12:00pm
Worrell Professional CenterA panel discussion featuring black alumni attorneys. Panelists will share their journeys through law school, their transition into the legal profession, the challenges and lessons learned, and the opportunities that shaped their careers. This discussion aims to provide insight and practical advice for law students as they prepare for their …
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