Program
Commencement Ceremony
2025
WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
THE GRADUATION EXERCISES
MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025
The Graduation Exercises
MONDAY, MAY THE NINETEENTH
TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY-FIVE
NINE O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING
THOMAS K. HEARN JR. PLAZA
| THE CARILLON Selections for the Wake Forest University Class of 2025 | Anthony M . Tang, University Carillonneur |
| THE PROCESSIONAL | The Brass Ensemble |
| THE PRAYER OF INVOCATION | The Reverend Christopher R. Donald University Chaplain |
| WELCOME AND REMARKS TO THE GRADUATES | Susan R. Wente President |
| THE CONFERRING OF THE HONORARY DEGREES Presented by | President Wente Michele Gillespie, Provost |
| Scott Cameron Pelley, Doctor of Humane Letters Hooding: Katy Harriger, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Faculty Director, Wake Washington Program | |
| COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS | Scott Pelley Author and CBS Journalist |
| THE HONORING OF RETIRING FACULTY | Provost Gillespie |
| FROM THE REYNOLDA CAMPUS |
| Jane Aiken, J.D., Professor of Law Jane W. Albrecht, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish Tom K. Aleman, Professor of the Practice in Accountancy Paul R. Anderson, Ph.D., Professor of Physics Roger L. Beahm, Professor of the Practice in Marketing Stewart A. Carter, Ph.D., Professor of Music Leigh Ann Hallberg, M.F.A., Teaching Professor of Art Katy Harriger, Ph.D., Professor of Politics and International Affairs Natalie A. W. Holzwarth, Ph.D., Professor of Physics Linda S. Howe, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Spanish Kathryn Levy, Professor of the Practice of Music Mary Beth Lock, Associate Dean, ZSR Library Dan Locklair, D.M.A., Professor of Music and Composer-in-Residence Pat C. Lord, Ph.D., Teaching Professor of Biology David Lubin, Ph.D., Charlotte C. Weber Professor of Art Barry Maine, Ph.D., Professor of English Gordon McCray, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Management Information Systems Stan Meiburg, Ph.D., Professor of the Practice in Politics and International Affairs J. Robert Nations, D.Min., Assistant Teaching Professor of Counseling, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Alan Palmiter, J.D., Professor of Law and William T. Wilson III Presidential Chair for Business Law W. Jack Rejeski, Ph.D., Professor of Health & Exercise Science Brett Rosenberg, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor of Italian Rebecca S. Thomas, Ph.D., Professor of German Mary Wayne-Thomas, M.F.A., Professor of Theatre Phoebe Zerwick, Professor of the Practice, Writing Program and Director of Journalism |
| FROM THE MEDICAL CAMPUS |
| Laurie Ann Demmer, M.D., FACMG, Professor of Pediatrics Cristin M. Ferguson, M.D., Professor of Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation John H. Gilliam III, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology Mary N. Hall, M.D., Professor of Family and Community Medicine Annette T. Hastie, Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy & Immunology Bruce A. Lessey, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Douglas S. Lyles, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry Mary F. Lyles, M.D., FACP, Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Gerontology & Geriatrics Gail S. Marion, PA-C, Ph.D., Professor of Family and Community Medicine Donald A. McClain, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute John D. McConnell, M.D., Professor of Urology Susan A. Melin, M.D., Professor of Cancer Medicine Carol Milligan, Ph.D., Professor of Translational Neuroscience Mary Claire O’Brien, M.D., Professor of Emergency Medicine Stephen P. Peters, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy & Immunology David C. Pollock, M.D., Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Laura J. Veach, Ph.D., Professor of Surgery, Division of Trauma James Koudy Williams, DVM, Professor of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine |
| THE ROTC COMMISSIONING | Lt . Col . John Flach Professor of Military Science |
| REMARKS FROM THE CLASS OF 2025 | Hannah Elluru (’25) Student Government President |
| CONFERRING OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES Presented by | President Wente Jackie Krasas, Dean of the College Annette L. Ranft, Dean of the School of Business |
| THE AWARDING OF BACHELOR’S DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES |
| THE AWARDING OF BACHELOR’S DEGREES IN THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS |
| CLOSING REMARKS | Provost Gillespie |
| THE ALMA MATER: “Dear Old Wake Forest” | Eatman and Paschal |
| Graduating Members of the Wake Forest University Chamber Choir |
| Dear old Wake Forest, Thine is a noble name; Thine is a glorious fame, Constant and true. We give thee of our praise, Adore thine ancient days, Sing thee our humble lays, Mother, so dear. |
| RECESSIONAL | The Brass Ensemble |
| THE CARILLON PEAL |
| COMMENCEMENT NOTES ■ The Commencement hashtag is #wfugrad. ■ Please silence all mobile devices during the ceremony. ■ This ceremony is being interpreted for the hearing-impaired by Communication Access Partners. ■ This ceremony will be livestreamed with closed captioning in Wait Chapel. ■ Full coverage of Commencement is available on the Wake Forest website: commencement.news.wfu.edu. |