Office of the Senior Vice President
What We Do
Melissa Combes (MBA ’97)
Associate Vice President, Presidential Advancement and Liaison to the Trustees
Marybeth Wallace (’86)
Special Assistant, Office of the Senior Vice President
Beth Ann Polivka
Associate Director, Presidential Advancement
Molly Olson (’22)
Senior Specialist, Presidential Advancement
Finance and Administration
The UA finance team oversees all aspects of Advancement’s financial operations including budget management, forecasting and planning. Additionally, this group is responsible for review and approval of Advancement expenditures ensuring purchases and procurement methods align with budget guidance and University policies. This is the only group authorized to execute contracts on behalf of Advancements and maintains a repository of department contracts. The team serves as liaisons to the University Offices of Finance, Procurement, Budget and serves on University committees for policy development, process improvements and cost saving measures.
Finance and Administration Team
Laura Davis (’98, MSA ’08)
Assistant Vice President, Finance and Administration
Allison Hunter
Associate Director, Finance and Administration
Talent Development and Facilities Management
Talent Development exists for YOU — full stop. Our team was built with one purpose in mind: to champion the people who make this place extraordinary. Whether you’re exploring a role here or already part of the Wake Forest family, we’re committed to creating a culture where you can do your best, brightest, most meaningful work.
From finding the right people to join our community, to ensuring they’re welcomed well, to walking alongside them throughout their entire journey here — we’re your partners, your cheerleaders, and sometimes your unofficial pep squad.
We celebrate successes in ways that are uniquely “us,” and we care about the whole person — the professional wins and the personal milestones. And we do all of it with an attitude grounded in optimism, fueled by curiosity, and sprinkled with a healthy dose of fun.
Because at the end of the day, when you thrive, we thrive.
Talent Development and Facilities Management Team
Jen Abbinett
Executive Director, Talent Development & Facilities Management
Suzanne Robertson
Director, Talent Development & Facilities Management
Face to Face Speaker Forum
Wake Forest creates opportunity outside the classroom. Face to Face Speaker Forum brings world-renowned, influential voices to Winston-Salem for moderated conversations on politics, arts and culture, business, global issues and social justice. This community-facing speaker series is regarded as one of the nation’s most distinguished speaker platforms.
When possible, separate student-led events in Wait Chapel allow Wake Forest students to engage one on one with Face to Face speakers. Student-moderated conversations and Q&A sessions give students a new perspective on leading world figures. Students from peer institutions and area high schools are also included in these events.
Face to Face Speaker Forum Team
Wake Washington
Proin vehicula, ante vitae egestas posuere, mauris quam rutrum eros, id lobortis tortor dolor sed sapien. Quisque bibendum sagittis urna, tempor faucibus lorem vulputate id.
Wake Washington Team
Jennifer Richwine (’93)
Senior Executive Director, Wake Washington Center
Office of Family Engagement
When Wake Forest admits a student, we also admit the family. The Office of Family Engagement team partners with our Wake Forest parents and families to deepen their relationships with the Wake Forest community. We are a front-door resource for Wake Forest families to the university, and we drive parent/family engagement and philanthropy through events, relationships with our staff, consistent and timely communications, and other opportunities to interface with campus leadership, faculty, staff and students. OFE also oversees the Wake Forest Parents’ Council, an advocacy group supporting the Wake Forest Pro Humanitate mission.
Office of Family Engagement Team
Minta McNally (’74)
Senior Advisor, University Advancement
Corey Pegram (’13)
Executive Director, Office of Family Engagement
Janelle Cunningham
Assistant Director, Office of Family Engagement
Naomi Black
Administrative Assistant, Office of Family Engagement