Leadership & Character | Accepted Students (Class of 2027)

Character at the Center of Leadership

The Program for Leadership and Character helps students think about how to live better. We teach students that leadership is the capacity to inspire, support, and influence others to work toward a shared purpose and that character is the set of virtues that enables us to lead authentic, integrated lives that promote the flourishing of individuals and communities.

Our program uses innovative teaching, creative programming, and cutting-edge research to transform the lives of students, foster an inclusive culture of leadership and character at Wake Forest, and catalyze a broader public conversation that places character at the center of leadership.

Wake Forest awards scholarships to Leadership and Character Scholars. These are students committed to developing their leadership and character at Wake Forest. The Leadership and Character Scholars Program is designed to strengthen students’ sense of community, inform their values and vocation, and prepare them to serve their communities well beyond our campus.

As part of our mission to effect a broader conversation around character-centered leadership, we host conferences in partnership with the Oxford Character Project that feature leaders and scholars in a variety of fields and disciplines. For instance, we recently hosted a conference on The Arts of Leading, in which Renée Elise Goldsberry, the Tony and Grammy Award-winning actress best known as Angelica Schuyler in the musical phenomenon, Hamilton, kicked off the conference. She spoke about her vision of leadership and the liberal arts and concluded with an electrifying special performance.

Did You Know?

There are 30 academic classes supported or created by the Program for Leadership and Character during the 2022-23 academic year.

The Arts of Leading conference, hosted by the Wake Forest Program for Leadership and Character and the Oxford Character Project, looks at how the arts and humanities can inform the theory and practices of leadership.

Through innovative teaching, creative programming, and cutting-edge research, the Program for Leadership and Character aims to transform the lives of students.

The Program for Leadership and Character often hosts distinguished leaders who speak about leadership and character in their respective fields.

Wake Forest faculty use groundbreaking research to develop creative, liberal-arts-based programming.

We work with undergraduate and graduate students to pursue and publish research through fellowships, summer internships, and research assistantships with our staff and faculty.

The Leadership and Character program is designed to strengthen students’ sense of community.

Keep Exploring

Exciting things happen at Wake Forest every day! Check out additional topic s to discover your niche and where you’ll leave your mark as a Demon Deacon. Learn more about affordability and explore our residence halls.

Secure Your Seat

Learn more about how to enroll and make your deposit.

Register for Campus Days

Welcome home, Deac! Are you ready for a sneak peek into your next four years? Join us for Campus Day on either Monday, April 10, or Friday, April 14. It’s your chance to explore the Forest and get a feel for what makes this place so special.

Connect with Students and Faculty

Start a conversation with a current Wake Forest student or faculty member. We’ll send you a text to see which majors you’re interested in, and we’ll make the connection!