Senate Committees

The Senate Executive Committee shall consist of the officers and the chairpersons of the standing committees. If the immediate past-President of the Senate is no longer on the Senate, they shall serve as a non-voting advisor to the Executive Committee. The Senate Executive Committee shall meet regularly with and advise the Provost, and other relevant administrators, on decisions, initiatives, planning, strategies and other activities related to policy, finance, infrastructure, faculty work and compensation, and the general operation of the University and its constituent units and members. The Executive Committee serves as an organizing and leadership body for the Faculty Senate.

• Officers (2024–2025)
  • Saylor Breckenridge, President
  • Steve Virgil, Vice President
  • Ryan Shirey, Secretary
  • Erik Summers, Member-At-Large
  • Arjun “Raja” Chatterjee, Past President
• Chairs of the Standing Committees (2024–2025)
  • Jason Parsley, chair of the Committee of Collegiate Senators
  • Michael Cartwright, chair of the Committee of Medical School Senators
  • Ellen Kirkman, chair of the Committee on Fringe Benefits
  • Katherine Shaner, chair of the Committee on Salaries
  • Amanda Kaufman, chair of the Committee on University Integration
  • Lauren Reid, chair of the Committee on Capital Planning
  • John Sumanth, chair of the Committee on Athletics
  • Sarah Morath, chair of the Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility
  • Michelle Steward, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Faculty Handbook

This committee shall gather current and past information regarding salaries and other University payments to employees of Wake Forest University across all its campuses. It shall make use of existing public information including but not limited to the annual information provided by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and other relevant data routinely made available to federal and state governmental entities as required by respective regulations and law. The committee shall be encouraged to contextualize their findings by comparison with other institutions of higher education. Notably, the Committee shall be represented, along with the Senate Committee on Fringe Benefits and the Senate Executive Committee, in administrative discussions and decisions pertaining to the University’s funding pools and distribution plans, policies, strategies, and other activities regarding faculty compensation.

• Katherine Shaner, chair
• Stephanie Bennett
• Catherine Harnois
• Mark Johnson
• Hank Kennedy
• Ryan Shirey
• Steve Virgil

This committee shall examine and address issues of critical importance to intercollegiate athletics and Wake Forest University in partnership with key stakeholders and/or relevant governing structures and committees both on and off campus (e.g. Director of Athletics, Faculty Athletics Representative to the NCAA, Faculty Athletics Committee, Student Athletics Advisory Committee). The committee shall also address issues concerning the financial and educational impact that intercollegiate athletics have on the University. Three additional charges are to foster transparency, promote student-athlete wellbeing, and cultivate an increased role for faculty governance in relevant aspects of the Wake Forest University Athletics Program.

• John Sumanth, chair
• Amol Joshi
• Nina Lucas
• Brett Nicks
• Jason Parsley
• Julie Wayne

The Faculty Senate Committee of the Collegiate Senators is generally concerned with important issues related to Wake Forest College and its governance. Its membership consists of the fifteen elected faculty senate members who represent Wake Forest College. The Chair of the Committee is elected annually by the members of the Committee from amongst its membership. Member(s) of the Collegiate Senators may propose issues for the Committee to address. The President or the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate may also formally request that the Collegiate Senators address issues of special importance to the college or the university. The specific agenda of the Collegiate Senators is determined by its chair in consultation with its membership.

• Jason Parsley, chair

For membership, see the listing of senators from Wake Forest College.

The Faculty Senate Committee of the Medical School Senators is generally concerned with important issues related to the Medical School and its governance. Its membership consists of the eight elected faculty senate members who represent the Medical School . The Chair of the Committee is elected annually by the members of the Committee from amongst its membership. Member(s) of the Medical School Senators may propose issues for the Committee to address. The President or the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate may also formally request that the Medical School Senators address issues of special importance to the Medical School or the university. The specific agenda of the Medical School Senators is determined by its chair in consultation with its membership.

• Michael Cartwright, chair

For membership, see the listing of senators from the Medical School.

This Committee shall develop and advocate for improvements in fringe benefits. The Committee shall be included in discussions or meetings of the Administration concerning fringe benefits and serve as a conduit of information from the University faculties to the responsible University administrator on benefits issues, including direct receipt of concerns about benefits programs from faculty. The Committee shall be represented, along with the Senate Committee on Salaries and the Senate Executive Committee, in administrative discussions and decisions pertaining to the University’s funding pools and distribution plans, policies, strategies, and other activities regarding faculty compensation.

• Ellen Kirkman, chair
• Emily Austin
• Simone Caron (by invitation)
• Sarah Morath

This committee shall monitor, evaluate, and participate in the University’s program planning, capital planning and other long-range planning processes. The Committee should meet regularly with the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Vice President for Facilities Real, Estate, and Planning, and other officials, groups, and committees involved in the planning of the University’s programs, infrastructure, and other capital activities. The Chair of this Committee sits on the University Space Planning Group.

• Lauren Reid, chair
• Saylor Breckenridge
• J.K. Curry
• John Pickel
• Rais Rahman
• Steve Virgil

This committee shall initiate discussions, identify opportunities, and aid and advise in the implementation of projects and programs that foster cooperation and communication between various components of the University, including across the units operating on the Reynolda, Downtown/Innovation Quarter, Charlotte, and other Wake Forest University campuses. The Committee will also provide evaluation and recommendations for organizational programs and systems that affect such collaborative efforts

• Amanda Kaufman, chair
• Saylor Breckenridge
• Kerry Danelson
• Angela Edwards
• Dan Johnson
• Chris Knott
• Adrian Laxton
• Katherine Shaner
• Julie Wayne

This Committee is both a Standing Committee of the University Senate and a University Committee. The chair is appointed by the Senate Executive Committee and sits on the Senate Executive Committee, the remaining membership is elected by each academic unit as described in the Faculty Handbook. All members must be tenured faculty of the rank of full professor or librarian. Neither the Chair nor membership are required to be current Senators. The members of this committee are responsible for addressing issues related to academic freedom and responsibility generally and specifically as they arise in the University. Such issues may be brought to the attention of the chair by University officials, Senators, the Senate, or by faculty they represent. The Committee also has the responsibility of serving as members of panels for the dismissal of a tenured faculty member as described in the Faculty Handbook. Committee members need not be members of the Senate. The Senate shall further convene this committee as deemed necessary

• Sarah Morath, chair
• Names of elected Committee members are included in lists of University Committees, available on the Provost’s website.

This Committee is both a Standing Committee of the University Senate and a University Committee. The chair is appointed by the Senate Executive Committee and sits on the Senate Executive Committee, the remaining membership is elected by each academic unit as described in the Faculty Handbook. All members must be tenured faculty of the rank of full professor or librarian. Neither the Chair nor membership are required to be current Senators. The members of this committee are responsible for addressing issues related to academic freedom and responsibility generally and specifically as they arise in the University. Such issues may be brought to the attention of the chair by University officials, Senators, the Senate, or by faculty they represent. The Committee also has the responsibility of serving as members of panels for the dismissal of a tenured faculty member as described in the Faculty Handbook. Committee members need not be members of the Senate. The Senate shall further convene this committee as deemed necessary

• Senate Representative: Sarah Morath, chair

Other members are listed on the Provost’s website.

Senate Representative: Saylor Breckenridge (2021–2024)

• TBD, Faculty Senate representative to Staff Advisory Council
• David Clingenpeel, Staff Advisory Council representative to the Faculty Senate