The President’s Awards for Excellence are one of Wake Forest’s approaches to acknowledge, appreciate, and reward employees for their contributions and achievements to the University’s institutional values and goals. Rooted in a collective effort to honor excellence across all areas of Wake Forest, the awards program is administered through a joint partnership connecting the Office of the President, Faculty Senate, the Staff Advisory Council, and Human Resources. Nominations open Oct. 22, 2026, and are due by Dec. 2, 2026. Winners will be announced Feb. 18, 2027, at Founders Day Convocation.
Who is eligible?
Permanent full- and part-time Wake Forest University employees (staff and faculty) who have completed a minimum one year of continuous service at the time of nomination (the stated deadline for submissions) are eligible for these awards, with the following exceptions:
- Employees who have received a formal corrective action within the 12 months prior to the stated deadline for nomination submissions.
- Members of the President’s Cabinet.
- Award recipients within the prior three years are not eligible in the award category they have already won. Nominees are not eligible for more than one award in a given year.
- Members of the Award Selection Committee are not eligible to receive an award while they are actively serving on the committee. In cases where an active committee member has been nominated, they may either recuse themselves from the committee or decline the nomination.
Self nominations are welcomed!
How are winners recognized?
Each winner will receive a $1,000 award and be recognized at Founders Day Convocation on Feb. 18, 2027. The University will assume responsibility for the taxes associated with the awards.
The departmental winner of the President’s Award for Excellence in Workplace Recognition will receive a $2,000 award to donate to a local charity of the department’s choice. Donations will be made in accordance with the Charitable Contributions Made by the University Administrative Policy. The department will also be recognized at Founders Day Convocation.
Questions? Please contact Dr. Malika Roman Isler, Associate Vice President for Employee Experience, Human Resources, at .
The Award Categories
Explore the award categories for recognizing faculty and staff. You can find the nomination form within each of the award category drop-downs. There is a different nomination form for each category.
The President’s Award for Leadership and Mentorship honors exceptional guidance, encouragement, and a steadfast commitment to empowering others.
Read more and make a nomination
The President’s Award for Excellence in Leadership and Mentorship honors individuals who, regardless of their title or position in the organizational chart, demonstrate leadership through decisions and actions that enable individuals and/or units to successfully advance institutional objectives.
Nominations for individuals should provide evidence of the nominee’s successful efforts in the following areas:
- Providing direct mentorship and/or advocacy for colleagues
- Facilitating additional opportunities (beyond what they might provide directly themselves) for colleagues to develop and advance their professional paths
- Guiding others through transitions and/or maintaining momentum toward clearly defined goals
- Contributing to strategic decision-making processes
- Sharing knowledge generously
- Connecting efforts and initiatives made at the individual and/or unit levels to organizational priorities so that stakeholders on all levels understand how they contribute to the success of the whole institution
- Fostering an environment (team, unit, or institution-wide) where people feel supported and equipped to contribute and grow
The President’s Award for Collaboration and Teamwork celebrates individuals who build strong connections, bridge disciplines, and foster a spirit of unity.
Read more and make a nomination
The President’s Award for Excellence in Collaboration and Teamwork honors individuals who demonstrate a commitment to collaborative excellence and healthy team environments, breaking down barriers to ensure that every voice is intentionally welcomed, included, and valued in achieving shared success.
Nominations for individuals should provide evidence of the nominee’s successful efforts in the following areas:
- Contributing to shared tasks and objectives consistently and effectively
- Facilitating connections between individuals, within groups, and/or across units
- Creating opportunities for others to contribute based on their own strengths and interests
- Supporting the stated mission or goals and contributing to team success by going beyond their typical workload expectations or individual interests, particularly when the larger group or institution is facing unusually challenging circumstances
- Fostering an environment that encourages and supports a growth mindset (in individuals and/or the team more broadly)
The President’s Award for Innovation and Impact recognizes creative problem-solving and forward-thinking initiatives that meaningfully advance WFU’s mission.
Read more and make a nomination
The President’s Award for Excellence in Innovation & Impact honors individuals who demonstrate a commitment to leveraging their professional skills, knowledge, and practices and to using their expertise to advance personal and institutional success.
Nominations for individuals should provide evidence of the nominee’s successful efforts in the following areas:
- Demonstrating initiative and persistence to improve or enhance policies, procedures, practices, or operational strategies
- Creating or participating in purposeful change to address problems, enhance performance, expand opportunities, and increase positive impact to people, programs, processes, operations, and/or the broader University, particularly in ways that challenge conventional practices. Their work addresses a significant need or opportunity and has the potential to produce sustained, scalable, or lasting value.
- Advancing the spirit of Pro Humanitate by developing solution(s) that serve others and strengthen the university community. Demonstrates thoughtful consideration of how the innovation(s) affects people and contributes to a more effective, supportive, inclusive, or connected university.
- Actively engaging relevant stakeholders in identifying needs, developing ideas, implementing solutions, and/or evaluating results. Builds collaboration and buy-in by seeking diverse perspectives, incorporating feedback, and helping others contribute to or embrace change.
The President’s Award for Workplace Recognition acknowledges a department that champions inclusivity, mutual respect, and a welcoming environment for all.
Read more and make a nomination
The President’s Award for Excellence in Workplace Recognition honors units or teams that demonstrate commitment to a culture that prioritizes appreciation for every member’s contributions to the group’s shared core objectives by embedding transparent, equitable, and peer-to-peer recognition practices into their everyday workplace culture. The unit or team models a culture that recognizes and respects each person’s contributions and that inspires individuals to participate in efforts toward the group’s success.
Nominations for units or teams should provide evidence of the group’s successful efforts in the following areas:
- Embedding the culture of recognition into systems, structures, and resource allocations so that employees at every level benefit from the unit’s commitment to a culture of recognition.
- Proving sustained practice over time rather than sporadic, event-driven efforts.
- Implementing approaches that build mutual appreciation across all employees that break down traditional silos between academic faculty and administrative/operational staff.
- Demonstrating strategic and positive impact of recognition efforts on employee experience.
- Adoption of unique recognition models, such as digital micro-recognition boards, values-aligned badges, or “behind-the-scenes” operational impact awards.