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An Ode to Our Lifelong Wake Foresters

The annual Retiree Luncheon is a time to gather friends and colleagues in celebration of our outgoing retirees. Hosted in partnership with Human Resources and the Office of the Provost, the event invites all retirees back to campus to welcome our honorees to their next chapter as new members of the Wake Forest retiree community.

“Each year [we come together] to honor those who have given so much to Wake Forest. I also hope that it shows you, our retirees, that your contributions remain an indelible part of our campus community.”

Mary Lucal, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Stay Involved

The annual Retiree Luncheon is a formal reunion of Wake Forest’s Retirees and an induction of their newest members. Retirement doesn’t mark an end to one’s time with Wake, but begins a new chapter for our beloved Deacs!

The Wellbeing Center has a thriving Retiree Wellness network; join them for regular coffee hours, pickleball leagues, and part-time employment opportunities.

Wake Forest University retirees meet over refreshments to celebrate Campus Recreation’s 2026 National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Innovative Programming Award for its Retiree Wellbeing Program.

Unlock your Retirement Benefits

Unlock your Retirement Benefits

Join our Retirement Community Gatherings

Join our Retirement Community Gatherings

Begin Planning for Retirement

Begin Planning for Retirement

Keep watering connections

You have worked and soon you will rest. But we, those who love you and have worked with you, will water your work. The Forest still grows. We are evidence that you were here.

– Chaplain Rice-Jalloh

Colleagues can help honor the legacy of our retirees by visiting the Chaplain’s Office and watering the ceremonial parlor palm used to recognize our honorees.

Reminisce with Us

2026 Retiree Luncheon

The retiree community welcomed 35 new members, combined, committing more than 800 years of service at Wake Forest University.

Congratulating our 2026 Honorees
  • Mark Beckerdite, Fleet Management
  • Karen Bennett, Office of Academic Advising
  • Polly Black, Department of Communication
  • Joe Cassidy, Campus Recreation
  • Brian Collie, Senior Analyst and Programmer
  • Timothy Davis, School of Law
  • Pat Dickson, Office of the Provost
  • Doug Ecklund, Facilities Operations
  • Susan Fahrbach, Department of Biology
  • Steve Folmar, Department of Anthropology
  • Joy Gambill, Z. Smith Reynolds Library
  • Susan Geis, University Advancement
  • Cindy Gentry, School of Law
  • Tomma Guastaferro
  • Mike Hazen, Department of Communication
  • Rob Heflin, Department of Athletics
  • Maria Henson, Wake Forest Magazine and the Journalism Program
  • Joanne Inkman, Department of Music
  • Tim Janke, School of Business
  • Dean Jarvis, Facilities Services
  • Ted Johnson, Information Systems
  • Abdou Lachgar, Department of Chemistry
  • Greg Ledbetter, Facilities Operations
  • Juan Martinez, Custodial and Waste Services
  • Leah McCoy, Department of Education
  • Brad McIlwain, University Advancement
  • Susan Parrott, University Registrar
  • Jon Pinder, School of Business
  • Carol Prillaman, Graylyn Estate
  • Tim Pyatt, Office of the Provost
  • Brett Rosenberg, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Dick Schneider, School of Law
  • Larry Sellars, Information Systems
  • Vickie Smith, Global Campus Programs
  • Margaret Taylor, School of Law
  • Olga Valbuena, Department of English

2025 Retiree Luncheon

The retiree community welcomed nearly 50 new members, combined, committing more than 1,160 years of service at Wake Forest University.

Congratulating our 2025 Honorees
  • Jane Albrecht, Department of Spanish
  • Tom Aleman, School of Business
  • Paul Anderson, Department of Physics
  • Roger Beahm, School of Business
  • Judy Burkhard, University Advancement
  • Stew Carter, Department of Music
  • JB Davis, University Police
  • Carolyn Disney, Athletics
  • Leon Farrow, The Graylyn Estate
  • Robert Fisher, University Police
  • Scott Frazier, Facilities, Real Estate, & Planning
  • Leigh Ann Hallberg, Department of Art
  • Melanie Harkey, Board of Trustees
  • Katy Harriger, Department of Politics & International Affairs
  • Robin Hawkins, Department of Education
  • Kevin Higgins, Athletics
  • Natalie Holzwarth, Department of Physics
  • Dede Honaker, Facilities, Real Estate, & Planning
  • Linda Howe, Department of Spanish
  • Karen Hunter, Finance
  • Kathy Jeffords, The Graylyn Estate
  • Kerry King, Wake Forest Magazine
  • Amy Lamy, Finance
  • Kathryn Levy, Department of Music
  • Mary Beth Lock, Z. Smith Reynolds Library
  • Dan Locklair, Department of Music
  • Pat Lord, Department of Biology
  • David Lubin, Department of Art
  • Barry Maine, Department of English
  • Marco Antonio Martinez Fernandez, Facilities, Real Estate, & Planning
  • Gordon McCray, School of Business
  • Pattie McGill, Office of the Chaplain
  • Stan Meiburg, The Sabin Center for Environment & Sustainability
  • James Montgomery, Facilities, Real Estate, & Planning
  • Julie Moore, School of Business
  • Matt Murray, Facilities, Real Estate, & Planning
  • Bob Nations, Department of Counseling
  • Carol Oliff, School of Professional Studies
  • Alan Palmiter, School of Law
  • Jack Rejeski, Department of Health & Exercise Science
  • Brett Rosenberg, The Graduate School, Interpreting & Translation Studies
  • James Shupe, Facilities, Real Estate, & Planning
  • Donna Simmons, Department of Philosophy
  • Rebecca Thomas, Department of German & Russian
  • Mary Tribble, University Advancement
  • Mary Wayne-Thomas, Department of Theatre & Dance
  • Phoebe Zerwick, Department of English

2024 Retiree Luncheon

The retiree community welcomed nearly 40 new members, combined, committing 897 years of service at Wake Forest University.

Congratulating our 2024 Honorees
  • George Aldhizer, Department of Accountancy
  • David Anderson, Department of Biology
  • Sharon Andrews, Department of Theatre and Dance
  • Angela Atkins, Office of Audit and Compliance
  • Tim Auman, Office of the Chaplain
  • Kenneth Basch, Real Estate
  • Ken Bennett, Communications and External Relations
  • Terry Blumenthal, Department of Psychology
  • Derrick Boone, School of Business
  • Gail Bretan, Office of the Chaplain
  • Dale Dagenbach, Department of Psychology
  • Michael Draughn, Facilities and Campus Services
  • Anita Conrad, Legal Department
  • Jim Curran, Department of Biology
  • Sandy Dickson, Department of Communication
  • Trina Forrest, Facilities Services
  • Carol Hanner, Advancement
  • Frederick “Rick” Harris, School of Business
  • Ken Hoglund, Department of Religious Studies
  • Eloisa Jacobo, Facilities Services
  • Peter Kairoff, Department of Music
  • Bill Kennard, Facilities Services
  • Annelda McGinn, University Advancement
  • Tommy Murphy, College Academic Computing
  • Emily Neese, Finance, Strategy and Planning
  • Beverly Nesbit, Health and Exercise Science
  • Hue Nguyen, School of Business
  • Anthony Parent, Department of History
  • Jennifer Saunders, University Police
  • Louise Schatz, Department of Counseling
  • Andrew Scott, Graylyn Estate
  • Brantly Shapiro, Department of Theatre and Dance
  • Meri Silveri, Auxilary Services
  • Sue Simpson, Enrollment
  • Nan Smith, School of Law
  • William Smith, Department of Biology
  • Phyllis Spencer, Enrollment
  • Amalia Wagner, Office of the Provost
  • Wende Walker, Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success
  • Mark Welker, Department of Chemistry

2023 Retiree Luncheon

The retiree community welcomed 34 new members, combined, committing more than 800 years of service at Wake Forest University.

Congratulating our 2023 Honorees
  • Alireza Lari, Teaching Professor
  • Allin Cottrell, Professor
  • Anne Boyle, Professor
  • Arlene McClannon, Help Desk Service Consultant II
  • Barbara Collie, Business Management Assistant
  • Carol DiGiantommaso, Associate Director
  • Cecil Price, Executive Director, Student Health Services
  • Cynthia Tessien, Professor of the Practice
  • David Finn, Professor
  • Debbie Best, William L. Poteat Professor
  • Debbie Drost, Clinical Assistant
  • Ed Morris, Executive Director, Wake Forest Historical Museum
  • Helga Welsh, Professor
  • Henry Johnson, Senior Telecommunications Technician
  • Hof Milam, Executive Vice President
  • Humberto Gonzalez, Sergeant
  • J.L. Bolt, General Superintendent
  • Jack Wilkerson, Professor
  • Jay Ford, Professor
  • Jay Lawson, Technical Manager
  • Jeff Gaither, Preventative Maintenance Coordinator
  • Jennifer Burg, Professor
  • Ken Sharp, Principal Client Applications Administrator
  • Kevin Bowen, Teaching Professor
  • Michael Berry, Professor
  • Michael Woodard, Custodian
  • Norma Andrade, Accounting and Payroll Assistant
  • Reid Morgan, Senior Vice President
  • Shelia White, Coordinator, Student Records
  • Stan Thomas, Associate Professor
  • Stephanie Reitz, Administrative Coordinator
  • Terry Miller, Small Engine Mechanic
  • Tim Holder, Developer
  • Wayne Silver, Professor