Gordon Soenksen Appointed Associate Dean of Advancement for Wake Forest Schools of Business

Wake Forest University has appointed Gordon Soenksen as associate dean of advancement for the Schools of Business. He will assume his duties Oct. 5.

Soenksen brings to the post more than 35 years of experience in higher-education fundraising, alumni relations and public affairs, most recently at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where he served as associate dean for development and alumni relations since 2004. Prior to that, he served terms as vice president of advancement at St. Olaf College, in Northfield, Minn., and Guilford College in Greensboro. He also served as associate dean for external affairs during a previous term at Duke’s Fuqua School and as associate director of development and director of capital programs at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

In the newly created position, Soenksen will play a crucial role in formulating the future of the newly combined Wake Forest University Calloway School of Business and Accountancy and Babcock Graduate School of Management. He will oversee fundraising, alumni relations, communications and marketing for the Schools of Business.

“Gordon brings to Wake Forest a wealth of experience as a strategic thinker, a gifted communicator and skilled manager of major gift programs,” said Dean of Business Steve Reinemund. “He joins us at a critical time as we continue to strengthen business education at Wake Forest in order to prepare students to work and lead in the fast-changing, competitive global marketplace.”

“This is a most important and exciting time in the history of the Wake Forest Schools of Business,” Soenksen said. “What an honor to join the team and to be a part of this effort. I look forward to working with the faculty, my administrative colleagues, students and alumni as we work toward the goals envisioned in our strategic plan.” Soenksen received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wartburg College in 1972 and an MBA degree from The University of Chicago in 1984. He lives in Greensboro with his wife of 36 years, Patricia Soenksen, who is president and chief executive officer of Hospice & Palliative Care of Greensboro.