Thomas K. Hearn Jr.
President Emeritus, Wake Forest University
Dr. Thomas K. Hearn, Jr. became chair of the Knight Commission in February 2005 after William Friday, the Commission’s founding chair announced his retirement from the post after serving as chair for 15 years. Hearn has been a member of the Knight Commission since it was formed in 1989.
Hearn retired as president of Wake Forest University on June 30, 2005 after completing 22 years in the position, one of the longest tenures in major American universities. He is the senior member of the ACC university presidents. Half of all Wake Forest alumni have graduated since he became president.
During his presidency, Wake Forest has gained recognition as a national university and is continually ranked among the top 30 in the country. Wake Forest has hosted two Presidential Debates during his tenure, including the 2000 debate between Al Gore and George W. Bush.
Dr. Hearn was an early advocate of the educational potential of technology, and Wake Forest is now recognized as a leader in academic technology. A 2003 Princeton Review ranking listed Wake Forest as the second “Most Connected Campus” in America.
A hallmark of Dr. Hearn’s presidency has been his emphasis on the importance of education not only as academic development, but also as development of the whole person. Under his leadership and example, the University’s motto, Pro Humanitate, for the service of humanity, has become a guiding academic principle.
As chairman of Idealliance, Dr. Hearn has been instrumental in the development of Winston-Salem’s Piedmont Triad Research Park, an urban home to life science and information technology research. The University commissioned the master plan for the park and Wake Forest School of Medicine was its anchor tenant.
A native of Alabama, Hearn is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned his doctorate in philosophy from Vanderbilt University in 1965.
