History of Wake Forest University in Timeline

Wake Forest University is a private research university established in 1834, currently located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after relocating from its original Wake Forest location in 1956. Its main Reynolda Campus is in Winston-Salem, but the university has other academic facilities in Charlotte, Washington D.C., Venice, Vienna and London. It is a well-known academic institution with a national reputation.

1902: Founding of the School of Medicine

Founded in 1902, the Wake Forest School of Medicine directs the education of about 1,800 students and fellows, including physicians, basic scientists and allied clinical professionals each year.

1902: School of Medicine Established

In 1902, Wake Forest University established the School of Medicine.

1911: Louise Heims Beck becomes university's first librarian

In 1911, Louise Heims Beck became Wake Forest University's first librarian. She later became a vaudeville performer and a Tony Award recipient.

1917: Reynolda House Constructed

In 1917, Katharine Smith Reynolds and her husband, Richard Joshua Reynolds, founder of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, constructed Reynolda House.

1921: First Summer Session

Wake Forest University held its first summer session in 1921.

1923: Wake Forest Student Government founded

Founded in 1923, Wake Forest Student Government (known as SG) works under a semi-Presidential system.

1923: Demon Deacons Team Name Origin

In 1923, Wake Forest's athletic teams, previously known as The Old Gold and Black or the Baptists, gained the name "Demon Deacons" after a newspaper reporter noted they "fought like Demons" in a win against Duke.

1932: Graylyn Estate Built

In 1932, Graylyn was built as a private estate for Bowman Gray, Sr., and his family.

1941: School of Medicine Moves to Winston-Salem

In 1941, the School of Medicine relocated to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, under Dean Coy Cornelius Carpenter and became the Bowman Gray School of Medicine.

1942: First female undergraduate students admitted

In 1942, Wake Forest admitted its first female undergraduate students due to the decreased male student population during World War II.

1946: College Move Initiated

In 1946, Wake Forest College began plans to move to Winston-Salem due to large gifts from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

1946: Graylyn Donated to Bowman Gray School of Medicine

In 1946, the Gray family donated Graylyn to the Bowman Gray School of Medicine.

1946: WFDD founded

WFDD, an NPR-affiliate, was founded in 1946.

1951: Arnold Palmer B.A.

In 1951, Arnold Palmer, a legendary PGA golfer, received his B.A. from Wake Forest.

1952: Construction on new campus begins

From 1952 to 1956, fourteen new buildings were constructed on the new Wake Forest campus in Georgian style.

1955: Baseball National Championship

In 1955, the Wake Forest baseball team won an NCAA team national championship.

1955: Debate team makes the semifinals

The Wake Forest Debate team had a semifinal team in 1955.

1955: College World Series Win

Wake Forest won the College World Series in baseball in 1955.

1956: University moved to Winston-Salem

In 1956, the Reynolda Campus, Wake Forest University's main campus, was established north of downtown Winston-Salem after the university relocated from Wake Forest.

1961: Graduate Studies Program Inaugurated

In 1961, Wake Forest University inaugurated a graduate studies program.

April 27, 1962: Wake Forest desegregates

On April 27, 1962, Wake Forest's board of trustees voted to accept Edward Reynolds as the first black full-time undergraduate student, making Wake Forest the first major private university in the South to desegregate.

1962: Reached Final Four

In 1962, Wake Forest's men's basketball team reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

1964: Edward Reynolds graduates

In 1964, Edward Reynolds became the first black graduate of Wake Forest University, earning a bachelor's degree in history.

1965: Al Hunt B.A.

In 1965, Al Hunt of Bloomberg News received his B.A.

1967: Reynolda House Converted to Art Museum

In 1967, Reynolda House was converted into an art museum.

1967: Wake Forest becomes fully accredited university

In 1967, Wake Forest became the fully accredited Wake Forest University.

1967: WFDD broadcast on 88.5 FM

Since 1967, the WFDD radio station has been broadcast on 88.5 FM.

1969: Camillo Artom leaves Baptist Medical Center

Casa Artom was named in honor of Camillo Artom, a professor at the Baptist Medical Center until 1969.

1969: Babcock Graduate School of Management Established

In 1969, the Babcock Graduate School of Management, now known as the School of Business, was established.

1969: Wake Forest School of Business was founded

In 1969, the Wake Forest School of Business was founded as the Babcock School of Management.

1972: Edward Reynolds earns Ph.D.

In 1972, Edward Reynolds earned a Ph.D. in African history from the University of London.

1972: Graylyn Donated to Wake Forest University

In 1972, Graylyn was donated to Wake Forest University and was used for various purposes, including graduate student housing.

1974: Purchase of Casa Artom

In 1974, Wake Forest University purchased the building that formerly housed the American Consulate in Venice and named it Casa Artom.

1974: National Championship

In 1974, Wake Forest's golf team won a national championship.

1975: Lea Laboratory Listed on National Register of Historic Places

In 1975, Lea Laboratory, which was built in 1887–1888, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1975: National Championship

In 1975, Wake Forest's golf team won a national championship.

1976: Charlie Ergen M.B.A.

In 1976, Charlie Ergen, co-founder and chairman of EchoStar and Dish Network, received his M.B.A. from Wake Forest.

1976: Wake Forest University Press established

Wake Forest University Press was established in 1976 by Irish scholar Dillon Johnston with the support of provost Edwin Wilson and president James Ralph Scales.

1977: David Farr B.S.

In 1977, David Farr, CEO of Emerson Electric Company and board director of IBM, received his B.S. from Wake Forest.

1977: Wake Forest acquires a home in Hampstead for its London program

In 1977, Wake Forest acquired a large brick home in Hampstead for its London program, as a gift from Eugene and Ann Worrell. The building, formerly known as Morven House, had been the home and studio of landscape painter Charles Edward Johnson, and was renamed in honor of the Worrells.

March 17, 1978: President Carter's National Security Address

On March 17, 1978, President Jimmy Carter delivered a major National Security address at Wait Chapel.

1978: Kay Hagan J.D.

In 1978, Kay Hagan, a former US Senator, D-NC, received her J.D. from Wake Forest Law School.

1979: Process to change relationship with Baptist State Convention begins

In 1979, Wake Forest began a process to change its relationship with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

1979: Scales Fine Arts Center Opens

In 1979, the James R. Scales Fine Arts Center opened.

1982: Richard Burr B.A.

In 1982, Richard Burr, a United States Senator, received his B.A. from Wake Forest.

1986: Thirteen Rhodes Scholars since 1986

As of 2024, thirteen Rhodes Scholars since 1986 have been affiliated with Wake Forest.

1986: Wake Forest gains autonomy from Baptist State Convention

In 1986, Wake Forest gained autonomy from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and established a fraternal relationship with it.

1986: National Championship

In 1986, Wake Forest's golf team won a national championship.

1986: Rhodes Scholars

Since 1986, Wake Forest has produced 13 Rhodes Scholars.

1987: Muggsy Bogues B.A.

In 1987, Muggsy Bogues, an NBA player, received his B.A. from Wake Forest.

1987: RJR Nabisco Building Donated

In 1987, RJR Nabisco donated its former world headquarters, a more than 500,000-square-foot building, to Wake Forest University. Now known as the University Corporate Center, the building houses various University offices.

September 25, 1988: Vice Presidential Debate

On September 25, 1988, Wake Forest hosted a debate between then-vice president George H. W. Bush and governor Michael Dukakis.

1988: Al Louden wins "National Coach of the Year" award

In 1988, Al Louden won the "National Coach of the Year" award for the Wake Forest Debate team. The award is named for Ross Smith.

1988: NCAA Tournament Appearance

In 1988, the Wake Forest women's basketball team made their only NCAA tournament appearance.

April 1989: Planning for the school began

Planning for the Wake Forest Divinity school began in April 1989.

1989: Coliseum Opened

In 1989, the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which seats 14,407, opened and became the home of Wake Forest's men's and women's basketball teams.

1992: Middleton House Deeded to Wake Forest

In 1992, Philip Hanes and his wife Charlotte deeded Middleton House and its surrounding 5 acres to Wake Forest as a gift.

1993: Sixty-two Fulbright recipients since 1993

As of 2024, sixty-two Fulbright recipients since 1993 have been affiliated with Wake Forest.

1993: Fulbright Recipients

Since 1993, Wake Forest alumni have received 62 Fulbright scholarships.

1993: Debate team makes the semifinals

The Wake Forest Debate team had a semifinal team in 1993.

1994: Marc Blucas and Melissa Harris-Perry B.A.

In 1994, Marc Blucas, an actor, and Melissa Harris-Perry received their B.A. degrees.

1994: Debate team makes the semifinals

The Wake Forest Debate team had a semifinal team in 1994.

1995: Randolph Childress MVP

In 1995, Randolph Childress was the MVP of the ACC tournament.

1995: School of Business establishes satellite campus in Charlotte

In 1995, the School of Business at Wake Forest University established a satellite campus in Charlotte, North Carolina.

1995: Debate team makes the semifinals

The Wake Forest Debate team had a semifinal team in 1995.

May 1996: Bill J. Leonard was appointed dean

In May 1996, Bill J. Leonard was appointed as the first dean of the Wake Forest Divinity school.

1997: Tim Duncan B.A.

In 1997, Tim Duncan, a five-time NBA Champion and two-time NBA MVP, received his B.A. from Wake Forest.

1997: Debate team wins the National Debate Tournament

In 1997, the Wake Forest Debate team won the National Debate Tournament. Ross Smith also won "National Coach of the Year" award.

March 1998: Board of visitors selected

In March 1998, the Wake Forest Divinity school selected its 14-member board of visitors.

April 1998: First faculty members named

In April 1998, the first faculty members were named for the Wake Forest Divinity school.

1998: Wake Forest purchases a villa in Vienna

In 1998, Wake Forest purchased a three-story villa in Vienna, Austria, thanks to a donation from Vic and Roddy Flow. The building, built in 1898 and formerly the U.S. Consulate office, was named in honor of the Flows.

August 1999: First students enrolled

In August 1999, the first 24 students enrolled in the Wake Forest Divinity school's program.

October 11, 2000: Presidential Debate

On October 11, 2000, Wake Forest hosted a debate between then-governor George W. Bush and vice-president Al Gore.

January 2001: School of Business moves into new facility in Charlotte

In January 2001, the School of Business at Wake Forest University relocated its Charlotte campus to a 30,000-square-foot facility on North College Street in Uptown.

May 20, 2002: First Master of Divinity degrees conferred

On May 20, 2002, the Wake Forest Divinity school conferred its first Master of Divinity degrees.

2002: Jen Hoover Named to ACC Anniversary Team

In 2002, Jen Hoover (then Jenny Mitchell) was named a member of the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team.

2002: Reynolda House Affiliated with Wake Forest University

In 2002, Reynolda House Museum of American Art became affiliated with Wake Forest University.

2002: Women's Field Hockey National Championship

In 2002, Wake Forest's women's field hockey team won an NCAA team national championship.

2002: NCAA Field Hockey Championship

In 2002, the Wake Forest Field Hockey team won the NCAA Field Hockey national championship.

2003: Josh Howard B.A.

In 2003, Josh Howard, an NBA all-star, received his B.A. from Wake Forest.

2003: NCAA Field Hockey Championship

In 2003, the Wake Forest Field Hockey team won the NCAA Field Hockey national championship.

2003: Women's Field Hockey National Championship

In 2003, the Wake Forest women's field hockey team secured another NCAA team national championship.

2004: Women's Field Hockey National Championship

In 2004, Wake Forest's women's field hockey team achieved their third consecutive NCAA team national championship.

2004: NCAA Field Hockey Championship

In 2004, the Wake Forest Field Hockey team won the NCAA Field Hockey national championship.

July 1, 2005: Nathan O. Hatch Assumes Office

On July 1, 2005, Nathan O. Hatch assumed office as president of Wake Forest University, succeeding Thomas K. Hearn Jr.

October 20, 2005: Nathan O. Hatch Announced as President

On October 20, 2005, Nathan O. Hatch was officially announced as the thirteenth president of Wake Forest University.

2005: Shag on the Mag started

In 2005, "Shag on the Mag" started under then Springfest chairman Joseph Bumgarner. Shag on the Mag is where a big tent covers Manchester Quad during Springfest and students shag dance to a live band.

2005: NCAA Field Hockey Semifinal Loss

In 2005, the Wake Forest Field Hockey team was defeated in the semifinal round by Duke University.

2006: Chris Paul NBA Rookie of the Year

In 2006, Chris Paul, a Wake Forest basketball alumnus, was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.

2006: Debate team makes the finals

In 2006, the Wake Forest Debate team made the finals in the National Debate Tournament.

2006: NCAA Field Hockey Championship Loss

In 2006, the Wake Forest Field Hockey team was defeated in the championship game by the University of Maryland.

2006: NCAA Tournament Final Four

In 2006, the Wake Forest men's soccer team advanced to the final four of the NCAA tournament, but were defeated by UC Santa Barbara.

2006: VSC sends students to help with Hurricane Katrina disaster relief

In the Spring of 2006, in light of the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Volunteer Service Corps (VSC) sent 30 Wake Forest students on a Wake Alternative Spring Break.

2006: Mock Trial team qualifies for national tournament

In the spring of 2006, the Mock Trial team at Wake Forest University was notable in qualifying for the national tournament while only in its 2nd year in operation.

2007: Ted Budd M.B.A.

In 2007, Ted Budd, a junior United States Senator of North Carolina, received his M.B.A. from Wake Forest.

2007: NCAA Men's Soccer Championship

In 2007, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons captured the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship, defeating Ohio State 2–1.

2007: Men's Soccer National Championship

In 2007, the Wake Forest men's soccer team won an NCAA team national championship.

May 2008: Wake Forest makes college entrance exams optional

In May 2008, Wake Forest University made college entrance exams optional for undergraduate admissions. Wake Forest became the first national university ranked in the top 30 by the U.S. News & World Report to adopt a test-optional policy.

2008: Debate team wins the National Debate Tournament

In 2008, the Wake Forest Debate team won the National Debate Tournament.

2009: Strategic plan outlined

In 2009, President Nathan Hatch outlined a campus culture in which personal and career development would become an integral component of the undergraduate student experience in his strategic plan. Later that year, he created a cabinet-level position and appointed Andy Chan as the vice president for personal and career development.

2009: Division I Men's College Cup

In 2009, the Demon Deacons returned to the final four of the Division I Men's College Cup, losing to Virginia 2–1 in overtime in the semifinals.

2009: Debate team makes the finals

In 2009, the Wake Forest Debate team made the finals in the National Debate Tournament.

2009: Move to David F. Couch Ballpark

In 2009, the Wake Forest baseball team began playing at David F. Couch Ballpark, moving from Gene Hooks Stadium.

2010: On campus living requirement

As of 2010, students were required to live on campus for their first three years as full-time enrolled students.

2010: Gail O'Day was appointed dean

In 2010, Gail O'Day was appointed as dean of the Wake Forest Divinity school and professor of New Testament and preaching.

2010: Partnership on First-Year Orientation Project

In 2010, Reynolda House and Wake Forest partnered on a first-year student orientation project using Frederic Church's 'The Andes of Ecuador' as the focal point.

2010: Debate team goes open source

In 2010, Wake Forest became the first top-tier debate team in the country to go "open source" and share all its evidence and arguments online through a wiki accessible to other debaters.

2011: Donation of Middleton House Completed

In 2011, the donation of Middleton House to Wake Forest was completed.

2011: Student involvement in on-campus performances

In 2011-2012, more than 500 Wake Forest students were directly involved in performances on campus.

February 2012: Wake Forest Biotech Place Opening

In February 2012, Wake Forest Biotech Place opened, marking a milestone in the development of Wake Forest Innovation Quarter.

December 2012: Wake Forest Innovations Launched

In December 2012, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center formally launched Wake Forest Innovations, a commercialization enterprise located in the Innovation Quarter.

2012: Student involvement in on-campus performances

In 2011-2012, more than 500 Wake Forest students were directly involved in performances on campus.

2012: National conference hosted

In 2012, Chan hosted a national conference called "Rethinking Success: From the Liberal Arts to Careers in the 21st Century" featuring Condoleezza Rice.

2012: Jen Hoover Takes Over as Coach

In 2012, Jen Hoover became the coach of Wake Forest Demon Deacons women's basketball team.

2012: Awards and Recognition for Diversity and Inclusion Efforts

In 2012, Wake Forest's Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Barbee Oakes, was named one of the "25 Women Making a Difference" by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Additionally, Wake Forest received the 2012 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award.

2012: Establishment of the Food, Faith, and Religious Leadership Initiative

In 2012, the Wake Forest Divinity school established the Food, Faith, and Religious Leadership Initiative to equip religious leaders with the knowledge, skills, and pastoral habits necessary to guide faith-based organizations around food issues.

2012: Research funding for the School of Medicine in fiscal year 2012

In the 2012 fiscal year, the Wake Forest School of Medicine was awarded nearly $185 million in research funding from federal and state agencies, industry and other sources.

August 1, 2013: Wake Forest Purchases Coliseum

On August 1, 2013, Wake Forest purchased the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum and 33 surrounding acres from the City of Winston-Salem.

2013: Public exhibitions held at Scales Fine Arts Center

In 2012–2013, 110 public exhibitions in theatre, music dance and visual arts held in Scales Fine Arts Center.

2013: "A Roadmap for Transforming the College-To-Career Experience" issued

In 2013, Chan issued "A Roadmap for Transforming the College-To-Career Experience".

2013: Community areas for 2013-2014 academic year

The three main community areas for the 2013-2014 academic year were not detailed in the text.

2014: Wimbledon and US Championship wins

In 2014, Noah Rubin won the boys singles championship at Wimbledon, and the US boys' national championships in singles and doubles.

2014: Summer School Classes Offered in Charlotte

In the summer of 2014, Wake Forest University began offering a small set of general summer school classes at the Charlotte campus.

2014: Community areas for 2013-2014 academic year

The three main community areas for the 2013-2014 academic year were not detailed in the text.

September 16, 2015: Plans for Undergraduate Classes Downtown Announced

On September 16, 2015, Wake Forest announced plans to offer undergraduate classes in the Innovation Quarter in Winston-Salem.

2015: Dearica Hamby Drafted to WNBA

In 2015, Dearica Hamby was drafted 6th overall in the WNBA draft by the San Antonio Stars (now Las Vegas Aces).

2015: Jeff Teague NBA All-Star

In 2015, Jeff Teague, a Wake Forest basketball alumnus, was named an NBA all-star.

2015: NCAA Championship Runner-up

In 2015, Noah Rubin was an All-American and the runner-up in the NCAA singles championship for Wake Forest.

2015: Summer Immersion Program began

In 2015, Wake Forest University began its Summer Immersion Program, which offers 23 institutes in STEM, social sciences, and creative disciplines.

January 2016: The Sutton Center opened

The Sutton Center opened in January 2016.

March 18, 2016: Programs Announced for Wake Downtown Campus

On March 18, 2016, Wake Forest announced programs in biomedical sciences and engineering at its new Wake Downtown campus.

July 2016: Second campus of the School of Medicine opens

In July 2016, a second campus of the Wake Forest School of Medicine opened downtown.

July 2016: School of Medicine Second Campus Opens

In July 2016, the second campus of the School of Medicine opened next to the Wake Downtown campus.

2016: Bill Clinton campaigns for Hillary Clinton

In 2016, Bill Clinton campaigned at Wake Forest for his wife Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign.

2016: Online Immersion Program began

In 2016, Wake Forest University began its Online Immersion Program, which offers nine courses in the same disciplines.

2016: Wake Forest undergraduate teaching ranking

In 2016, Wake Forest ranked tied for 10th best undergraduate teaching in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.

2016: NCAA Championship Game

In 2016, the Demon Deacons reached the NCAA Championship game again, losing to Stanford in the College Cup Championship.

2016: Rankings of the School of Medicine by U.S. News & World Report

In its 2016 edition, U.S. News & World Report ranked the Wake Forest School of Medicine tied for 52nd best in research and tied for 74th in primary care.

January 2017: Undergraduate Programs Begin at Wake Downtown

In January 2017, Wake Forest University began offering undergraduate programs at Wake Downtown.

January 2017: Wake Downtown Opens

In January 2017, the new Wake Downtown campus opened.

2017: Cheslie Kryst J.D., M.B.A.

In 2017, Cheslie Kryst graduated from Wake Forest Law School with a J.D. and M.B.A.

2017: MLB Draft Selections

In 2017, eight players from Wake Forest were selected in the MLB Draft, the most in the school's baseball history.

2017: Debate team makes the semifinals

The Wake Forest Debate team had a semifinal team in 2017.

March 2018: Reynolds Gym renovated and renamed

In March 2018, Reynolds Gym was renovated and renamed the Wake Forest Wellbeing Center.

May 22, 2018: Men's Tennis NCAA National Championship

On May 22, 2018, the Wake Forest Men's Tennis team won its first ever NCAA National Championship, defeating the Ohio State Men's Tennis team 4–2 on their home courts.

2018: Wake Forest research and development spending

In 2018, Wake Forest spent $191 million on research and development, ranking it 117th in the nation according to the National Science Foundation.

2018: Men's Tennis National Championship

In 2018, the Wake Forest men's tennis team won an NCAA team national championship.

March 12, 2019: Wake Forest involved in Varsity Blues scandal

On March 12, 2019, Wake Forest was one of eight colleges and universities involved in the Varsity Blues scandal, with a volleyball coach accepting a $50,000 bribe.

April 2019: Jonathan L. Walton was appointed dean

In April 2019, Jonathan L. Walton was appointed as the new dean of the Wake Forest Divinity school.

2019: Cheslie Kryst Miss USA

In 2019, Cheslie Kryst, a Wake Forest Law School graduate, became Miss USA.

2019: Partnership Announced

In 2019, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Atrium Health announced a partnership with the goal of establishing a Charlotte campus for the Wake Forest School of Medicine.

2019: Debate team makes the semifinals

The Wake Forest Debate team had a semifinal team in 2019.

February 21, 2020: Wake Forest Apologizes for Benefiting from Slavery

On February 21, 2020, Wake Forest officially apologized for the institution's role in benefiting from enslaved people during slavery.

2020: Nathan O. Hatch Announces Retirement

In 2020, Nathan O. Hatch announced his retirement as president of Wake Forest University.

January 29, 2021: Susan Rae Wente Named President

On January 29, 2021, the Wake Forest University Board of Trustees named Susan Rae Wente as Wake Forest's fourteenth president and first female president of the school.

February 2021: Details of Partnership Revealed

In February 2021, more specific details were revealed about the Wake Forest School of Medicine campus, including a seven-story tower.

March 24, 2021: Site Announced for the School of Medicine

On March 24, 2021, Atrium Health announced a 20-acre site at Baxter and McDowell Streets for the Wake Forest School of Medicine.

2022: Construction to Start

In 2022, construction was scheduled to begin for the Wake Forest School of Medicine campus in Charlotte.

November 2023: School of Medicine pledges money to fund research

In November 2023, the Wake Forest School of Medicine pledged $100 million to help fund research.

2023: Women's Golf National Championship

In 2023, the Wake Forest women's golf team won an NCAA team national championship.

2023: Rankings from U.S. News & World Report America's Best Colleges

In the 2023 U.S. News & World Report America's Best Colleges report, Wake Forest ranked tied for 31st for "Best Undergraduate Teaching", 64th for "Best Value", and tied for 47th overall among national universities in the U.S.

2023: Undergraduate admission statistics for the fall of 2023

In the fall of 2023, Wake Forest University received 17,479 applications and admitted 3,768, which is 21.56 percent. There were 1,385 students enrolled, which is a yield rate of 36.75 percent. The undergraduate admission to Wake Forest is rated "most selective" by U.S. News & World Report.

2024: Rhodes Scholars affiliated with Wake Forest

As of 2024, eighteen Rhodes Scholars have been affiliated with Wake Forest.

2024: Wake Forest ranked among best national universities in North Carolina

In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Wake Forest 3rd among best national universities in North Carolina behind Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.