Welcome, Students from Dr. Shea
Dear students,
Happy FWOC! I hope these first few days of classes have given you a chance to connect with friends, meet new people and begin settling into the rhythm of the semester.
This is my fifth fall in the Forest, and somehow each year brings a renewed sense of energy and possibility. This year feels especially meaningful as we welcome President Rodriguez as Wake Forest’s 15th president and begin a new chapter together as a university.
For the Class of 2027, I loved running into many of you on your last first day. As you begin your final year, excitement and pressure are likely setting in. As a gentle reminder, you have the rest of your life to work, but you only get to experience college once. I hope you “freeze-frame” these special moments that go by way too fast.
To our newest Deacs, welcome, again, to the Forest! You are at the beginning of an incredible journey filled with opportunities to learn, explore, build relationships and discover what makes this place feel like home to you. To our second- and third-year students, welcome back! These middle years are special. Sophomores, this year, you’ll declare your major and begin to settle in, while juniors, you’ll begin to look toward what is next. While that is important, I hope you’ll also think about what’s now. These moments slip away quickly. Soak it all in! To the more than 900 Deacs studying around the world this semester, we miss you! We look forward to seeing you back on campus in January. Wherever this year finds you, I’m so glad you are part of this community.
A new academic year gives each of us an opportunity to begin again — to try something new, discover our strengths, set goals, stretch ourselves and maybe even do something that makes us a little uncomfortable.
One of my favorite parts of a new year is seeing our campus come alive again. I loved catching up with so many of you at yesterday’s Milkshake Monday, and there are plenty more opportunities to connect this week. Tomorrow, I hope you’ll join the Campus Life team and me for our Campus Life Cookout on Manchester Plaza from 5-7 p.m. We’ll also launch Season 4 of Kidd You Not with a special first episode featuring President Rodriguez. I’m excited for you to get to know him; I know he is eager to know you. On Thursday, visit the Fall Involvement Fair to explore the many ways you can get engaged, find your people and try something new.
You are what makes this place so special. We’re here for you on the special days, the hard days, and the every days. I’m grateful for another academic year with you and look forward to seeing you soon.
Go Deacs!
Shea Kidd Brown
Vice President for Campus Life