Engaged Learning for Empowered Futures
Deacs Do … transformational education. We prepare our students to think critically, solve real-world problems, and carry forward the spirit of Pro Humanitate.
Deacs Do… expansive experiential learning opportunities across all disciplines. Together, we build on what we already do well — mentored research, community partnerships, and project-based learning — and reimagine what’s possible for our students’ future.
Deacs Do … collective effort and interdisciplinarity. Faculty and staff across disciplines play a crucial role in shaping the vision, practices, and impact of experiential learning.
Why Deacs Do Experiential Learning
Experiential learning changes the way students learn — and who they become.
When we teach this way, students don’t just graduate with knowledge — they graduate with wisdom, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose.
Gain confidence
and perspective
by navigating ambiguity and working with others.
Bridge theory
and practice
by applying knowledge in complex, real-world contexts.
Co-create
knowledge
through inquiry, creativity, and collaboration.
Live out
Pro Humanitate
by working alongside communities, industries, and partners.
See What Deacs Do
- Deacs Do: Leyla Herrera (’27)
For Leyla Herrera (’27), summer research means taking science beyond the classroom and into the field. At the Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve, Leyla studied how ferns function in different environments, […] - Deacs Do: Andrew Riggs (’27)
Discovering new cancer treatments starts with curiosity and the next generation of researchers. During the summer of 2026, undergraduate Andrew Riggs (’27) is working alongside Wake Forest professor Ulrich Bierbach […] - Deacs Do: Lacy February (’27)
During Summer 2026, biochemistry and molecular biology major Lacy February (‘27) worked alongside biology professor Chris Jernigan through Wake Forest’s URECA program to study how northern paper wasps recognize one […] - Students become partners, not just volunteers, at Generations Center
An Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness collaboration with Wake Forest won a statewide Community Partner of the Year award. The Creative Care class teaches students how to be empathetic, effective volunteers. Students partner with adults living with memory loss or frailty to create poems for an “arts as medicine” project. - From Classroom to Conference: Student Experiences at SETC
In early March 2026, 12 students packed their portfolios, sharpened their pitches, and traveled to Tennessee to attend the Southeast Theatre Conference (SETC), one of the largest networks of theatre practitioners in the country. Made possible by the Campo Fund for Experiential Learning, the trip gave students four days to participate in design competitions and acting workshops, audition for competitive roles, and network with professionals in the field. Students seized every opportunity to showcase their work to an audience of industry experts and gained invaluable skills that will stay with them long after graduation.