Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce that Wade Maki has been appointed Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the Chancellor, effective July 1, 2026.
In this role, Wade will serve as a key connector across academic leadership, administrative offices, and the faculty, ensuring strong coordination and execution of institutional priorities aligned with the University’s strategic plan and UNC System goals. He will lead Chancellor-sponsored initiatives, including continued implementation of the strategic plan and an enterprise-wide AI strategy. He will also serve as a liaison between administration and faculty and work closely on implementation of UNC System policies.
Wade brings a deep understanding of the University and the UNC System, along with a strong record of leadership and collaboration. As Chancellor’s Fellow for Strategic Planning since 2024, he led the “Forward Together” Strategic Plan refresh and supported key initiatives, including artificial intelligence and career readiness.
Wade will complete his two terms as Chair of the UNC System Faculty Assembly, which began in 2022, at the end of this semester. He advanced policy efforts such as updates to faculty workload and post-tenure review, the Foundation of American Democracy requirement, and a consensus definition of academic freedom.
A member of the UNCG faculty since 2004, Wade has been a principal lecturer in philosophy and a recipient of the Anna Maria Gove Award for Teaching Excellence. His leadership roles have included director of the Bachelor of Liberal Studies Program and co-director of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Commons. As he transitions into this new role, Wade will step down from his faculty position in the Department of Philosophy.
Please join me in congratulating Wade on this new role and in thanking him for his continued leadership and service to UNCG.
Sincerely
Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr.
Chancellor
