Peter Rodriguez named 15th president of Wake Forest University

The Board of Trustees of Wake Forest University announced the appointment of Peter Rodriguez as the University’s 15th President. A distinguished economist and transformative academic leader, Rodriguez currently serves as the dean of Rice University’s School of Business, which includes the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business and the Virani Undergraduate School of Business. He will begin his presidency at Wake Forest on July 1, 2026. 

“The Presidential Search Committee unanimously agreed that Peter Rodriguez was the best choice to lead Wake Forest into its third century,” said Jeanne Whitman Bobbitt (’79, MBA ’87), co-chair of the Presidential Search Committee and chair of the Board of Trustees. “During the search process, we came to know Dr. Rodriguez as a scholar and an intellectually capable, avid learner and researcher. He is a leader of principle, character and kindness who has the mind and temperament for the complexities of modern higher education. We are delighted he has agreed to join our community.”

Rodriguez brings decades of expertise in international trade, economic history and public finance to Wake Forest. His storied career is defined by a commitment to academic excellence, diversity and global engagement. At Rice University, where he has served as dean and professor of strategy since 2016, he led the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business to new heights of national prominence and started the Virani Undergraduate School of Business.

“Peter is a trained economist who has an insatiable curiosity and strategic mind,” said Curt Farmer (’84, MBA ’91, P ’16, P ’17), co-chair of the Presidential Search Committee and vice chair of the Board of Trustees. “We were impressed by his academic credentials, business acumen, steady leadership, and reputation for strong relationships across his various campuses. He is an attentive and responsive leader who demonstrates excellence and humility.”

Wake Forest is an institution of high quality that makes a genuine difference in the world. It is the honor of my career to join the Wake Forest community as its next president. I look forward to getting to know the people who make up this special place and working together to advance the aspirations and ambitions of the University.

Dr. Peter Rodriguez

Academic leadership

In 2025, Poets&Quants named Rodriguez its Dean of the Year because of his transformative work at Rice. During his tenure as…