Meet Our Team
Jen Abbinett
A proud Midwesterner with a soft spot for cornfields and kindness, Jennifer Abbinett traded in the flatlands of Indianapolis, Indiana for the (slightly hillier) charm of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She joined the Wake Forest University Human Resources team as an onboarding coordinator, where she helped new employees find their footing. She then leveled up to Recruiter, because clearly, she’s good at spotting talent (look at all of the great people in UA!).
In 2014, Jen took her talents to University Advancement, stepping into the role of Director of Talent Development. Now she’s hit “Boss Level” as Executive Director of Talent Development and Facilities Management, and serves on the Leadership Team—proof that being kind, competent, and slightly obsessed with organizational charts pays off.
Since 2019, she’s been happily married to Joe Peele. When she’s not working, Jen is likely planning her next adventure across the globe, hanging out with animals (because let’s be honest—animals > people), getting in a workout, or curled up with a good book that probably has a color-coded bookmark.
Suzanne Robertson
A proud native of Winston-Salem, Suzanne Robertson has been cheering on the Demon Deacons since before she could tie her shoelaces (and yes, she still has the pom-poms to prove it). After a brief detour to Georgia—where the tea was sweet but it was not North Carolina—she and her husband returned home to raise their two sons in the shadow of the Old Gold and Black.
Once her boys launched into young adulthood (with only a few bumps and plenty of snacks along the way), Suzanne reentered the professional world and found herself where she belongs: at Wake Forest University.
As Associate Director for Strategic Talent Management in University Advancement, Suzanne now focuses on aligning people with purpose. She designs thoughtful onboarding, engagement, and retention strategies that ensure staff not only know what to do, but feel valued while doing it. With an operational mindset and a creative edge, she bridges the gap between institutional goals and human needs, whether she’s rolling out culture-building programs, streamlining internal communications, or writing a lighthearted poem about cleaning out the office fridge.
Known for her empathy, clarity, and signature sense of humor, Suzanne believes the workplace can be both effective and human. Her mission is simple: build places where people want to stay, grow, and thrive. Her office door is always open so stop by anytime and ask her about her dog!
Kimberly Flowers
Kim moved from Northwest Ohio to North Carolina with her husband and two children in 1995. She was drawn to apply for a position at Wake Forest University shortly after their arrival because of her former role in the banking industry where she had daily interactions with clients at a small university in Ada, Ohio. She didn’t know much about Wake Forest University at the time, but knew it was the right decision to leave the banking world and move into the field of higher education.
Kim began as the administrative assistant in the News Bureau in the Office of Public Affairs (now known as University Advancement). Eight years later, she was promoted to Executive Assistant to the Vice President and supported three Vice Presidents during this time. She transitioned to her current role as Recruiting and Facilities Specialist on the Talent Development Team.
Kim and her husband, (also named Kim), enjoy spending time with their family and especially with their four grandchildren. When she’s not on campus, you’ll find her in the garden and camping at state parks. She’s still trying to master the art of crochet; a long-time hobby that she shared with her Mom as a child.