Catalyzing Change in a Changing World with Dr. Susan Wente

Catalyzing Change in a Changing World with Dr. Susan Wente

From Wake Women by Mary Tribble

April 3, 2026 · 1h 5m · Season 5 · Episode 1

About this episode

Dr. Susan Wente discusses her leadership journey and the impact of her presidency at Wake Forest as she prepares for retirement.

Making a transition from a life-long, full-time career can be a challenge for anyone. Imagine making that change when you’ve been leading a prestigious liberal arts university. That’s what we are here to talk about today, as Susan R. Wente prepares to retire as Wake Forest’s 14th president. I sat down with Dr. Wente to talk about her leadership journey and the legacy of her impact on the Wake. We talk about strategic initiatives, leadership and character, community engagement, and the importance of trust in science. And we also learn about her vision for the future amid societal challenges.

People in this episode

Host: Mary Tribble

Guest: Dr. Susan Wente

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • transition
  • community engagement
  • trust in science
  • societal challenges
  • legacy

Keywords

  • leadership journey
  • Wake Forest
  • community engagement
  • trust in science
  • societal challenges
  • legacy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Wake Forest

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