Building a Culture of Appreciation, Leadership, and Growth

Human Resources is pleased to introduce ElevatingEX, a people-first initiative designed to shape how staff and faculty work, grow, and thrive at Wake Forest. By unifying culture, workplace environment, and professional growth, this framework ensures that every phase of employment feels purposeful, supported, and connected.

“ElevatingEX reflects an institutional commitment to ensuring every employee feels valued and connected, and can maximize every part of their employment experience,” says Dr. Malika Roman Isler, Associate Vice President for Employee Experience (EX). “Central to this vision is cultivating a recognition-rich culture where appreciation flows naturally across all levels, from daily praise and peer shout-outs to formal milestone honors.”

The framework is centered on six core concepts: Culture, Conditions, Leadership and Management, Learning and Development, Recognition and Rewards, and Total Rewards. These are paired with the eight stages of the Employee Lifecycle. Together, these concepts streamline access to career growth, wellbeing programs, and structured support across campus.

“At Wake Forest, people leaders are absolutely critical to our mission,” says Dr. Mary Lucal, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. “Equipping them with tools to support, mentor, and empower their teams ensures that leadership goes beyond daily operations and into building trust and creating an environment where every individual can thrive.”

New recognition webpages offer practical tools and actionable strategies to weave appreciation into daily routines. These tools support both manager-led praise and peer-to-peer connection, while highlighting key institutional honors like the newly introduced President’s Awards for Excellence.

Explore the new EX resources on the HR website to discover tools, programs, and recognition pathways supporting every stage of your Wake Forest journey.