Coming home

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Last summer brought a season of transition for the Wake Forest community. Alongside the arrival of President Peter Rodriguez, the University Board of Trustees installed a new leader: Curt Farmer (’84, MBA ’91, P ’16). Farmer, who recently co-chaired the Presidential Search Committee, officially assumed the role of board chair on July 1.

“I recognize the weight of this inflection point in the history of Wake Forest,” Farmer says, “and I am humbled, honored and excited to serve as board chair. I’m fortunate to follow some great leaders of the board, including Jeanne Whitman Bobbitt (’79, MBA ’87), and I am grateful that she will stay on as vice chair alongside Mit Shah (’91, P ’25) and Gary Pinkus (P ’20, ’22).” 

Farmer was born and raised in Winston-Salem and graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School. At just 16 years old, he met classmate Alice Whitler, whom he would later marry. Growing up in Winston-Salem, Farmer held Wake Forest in high regard, but reasoned that he needed to get away from his hometown for his college years. As the decision loomed closer, a visit to campus changed everything. 

“As soon as I spent time on campus, I was drawn to the University,” Farmer says. “I fell in love with the campus and the personal attention.” 

A liberal arts student who majored in history and religion, Farmer originally intended to go into the ministry. However, a conversation with a mentor professor reoriented Farmer toward finance. He attended the evening MBA program to further his knowledge base and develop lifelong friends in the industry. 

He also began his career in Winston-Salem, at Wachovia Bank on Main Street, eventually rising to become executive vice president and wealth management director for the Southeast. In 2008, at the height of the financial crisis, Farmer made a leap of faith and moved from North Carolina to Dallas to become Comerica Bank’s executive vice president of wealth management. In 2015, he was named president of Comerica and became CEO in 2019. He assumed the role of chairman of the board in 2020. Comerica merged with Fifth Third Bank earlier this year, and Farmer is now vice chair of Fifth Third. He also sits on Texas Instruments’ board and is active on numerous nonprofit and business organizations’ boards as well.

Through it all, Wake Forest remained a family affair for the Farmers. Alice (P ’16) became a physical therapist, practicing at the outpatient clinic at what was then known as Baptist Hospital and with Demon Deacon athletics. 

Curt Farmer has been an active alum at Wake Forest, serving as a member of the College Board of Visitors, Divinity Board of Visitors and Babcock Graduate School of Business Alumni Council. Prior to becoming chair of the University Board of Trustees, Farmer served as vice chair. The Farmers passed on their love for the Demon Deacons to their three children: Allison (’16, MSM ’17), Katie and Jack; and their grandson, Henry. 

Partnering with Rodriguez, Farmer will help lead Wake Forest as it approaches its third century. 

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with Curt,” Rodriguez says. “He’s thoughtful, deeply experienced and comfortable in his own skin. He has steered large organizations through challenging situations as a CEO, which is incredibly helpful to me. He’s the perfect board chair for this moment.” 

For Farmer, the mandate of the board is clear: Maintain a steady, supportive hand while keeping a focus on what’s next. 

“Our job as board members is to balance fiduciary responsibility and supporting the president,” Farmer says. “There’s no shortage of challenges out there, but we’ve also got some tremendous opportunities to capitalize on. I am confident that our best years are not in the rearview mirror. Our best years are ahead of us.”