Power Player 2023: Susan Wente, Wake Forest University

susan wente headshot
Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente poses in her office in Reynolda Hall on Thursday, August 26, 2021.
Ken Bennett
Daniel Finnegan
By Daniel Finnegan – Managing Editor, Triad Business Journal

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Wente has quickly made her mark at Wake Forest University, where she has appointed new deans of the medical, law and business schools as well as a new CFO.

SUSAN WENTE

Organization: Wake Forest University

Title: President

What makes her a Power Player: Wente, who took over as the school’s 14th president and first female president in July 2021, has quickly made her mark on the university. Wente named a new law school dean (Andrew Klein) and a new CFO (Jacqueline Travisano) in 2024 after previously installing a new provost (Michele Gillespie) and new deans for the schools of medicine (Dr. Ebony Boulware) and business (Annette Ranft). Wake announced in August that it would offer early action specifically for first-generation students after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled is affirmative action unconstitutional. WFU is also planning a mixed-use redevelopment of about 180 acres it owns near its football, baseball and basketball facilities. Wake was ranked as the nation's 47th best this year by U.S. News and the eighth best employer in N.C. by Forbes magazine.

Phone: 336-758-5213

Address: P.O. Box 7226, Winston-Salem 27109

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