Coordinator Allison Walker, Director of Community Partnerships and Experiential Learning in the Office of Civic and Community Engagement

Academic Community Engagement (ACE) courses connect academic content to community engagement through collaboration with community partners. ACE courses align with the Carnegie Foundation’s classification of community engagement as “the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.”  

Guided by the principle of Pro Humanitate, ACE-designated courses empower students to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings, fostering experiential learning and servant leadership through collaborative community partnerships. Through an interdisciplinary, community-based approach to learning, research, and scholarship, students gain the knowledge, values, and skills to address perennial social problems and become catalysts for change, dedicated to serving humanity and advancing social progress for generations to come.

Vision Statement

The ACE (Academic Community Engagement) Program at Wake Forest University envisions a future where academic inquiry and community service are seamlessly intertwined, nurturing a generation of engaged, ethical leaders committed to the common good. By embracing Wake Forest University's motto of Pro Humanitate, the ACE program fosters the development of empathic servant leaders who are equipped to tackle global issues through local, community-based efforts.

Mission Statement

The mission of the ACE (Academic Community Engagement) Program at Wake Forest University is to cultivate transformative educational experiences that integrate rigorous academic scholarship with sustained and reciprocal civic engagement.

Guided by the principle of Pro Humanitate, ACE-designated courses empower students to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings, fostering experiential learning and servant leadership through collaborative partnerships.Through an interdisciplinary, community-based approach to learning, research, and scholarship, students gain the knowledge, values, and skills to address perennial social problems and become catalysts for change, dedicated to serving humanity and advancing social progress for generations to come.

Contact Information

Office of Civic and Community Engagement
Benson 505
Phone: 336-758-3742
Email: walkea@wfu.edu