Wake Forest University has announced a new study away program in Charlotte, aimed at sophomores and juniors. The initiative will combine academic coursework with professional experience, focusing on the intersection of business and the liberal arts. The first group of students is set to begin in 2027, studying topics such as the modern business landscape, data visualization, leadership, and character.
Vice Provost for Global Affairs Kline Harrison said, “This program allows our foundational strengths—rigorous classroom learning and intense student-faculty engagement—to intersect with the opportunity to explore and shape professional life. By capitalizing on Wake Forest’s presence at The Pearl, we are creating a powerful opportunity to integrate academic distinction with industry-aligned experiences.”
Applications for the spring 2027 semester are now open through the Center for Global Programs & Studies website. Future plans include expanding into health and human services as well as medical device engineering and innovation to align with Charlotte’s focus on life sciences.
A key feature of the program is its collaboration with Wake Forest’s Office of Personal and Career Development. Unlike traditional internship models where students seek placements independently, participants in Charlotte will be matched with opportunities at small and mid-sized organizations across both for-profit and non-profit sectors.
Wake Forest’s Senior Vice President and Chief Partnerships Officer Mercy Eyadiel commented, “Semester-long internships in emerging fields are vital to the evolution of higher education. They provide the deep, hands-on experience today’s workforce demands.”
Michelle Horton (MBA ‘02), vice president of Talent Development at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, highlighted benefits for both students and local industries: “Our student interns can contribute meaningfully while exploring how their academic strengths, interests and values connect to real work that strengthens our community. We are excited about welcoming undergraduates, even those early in their academic journey, to learn from our teams, bring fresh perspectives, and see firsthand how talent and purpose intersect.”
The program site at The Pearl innovation district places students just 80 miles from Wake Forest’s Reynolda Campus in Winston-Salem but within an urban environment that offers strong employer connections and expanded experiential learning options. Over the next 15 years, The Pearl district is expected to create more than 5,500 on-site jobs and 11,500 regional jobs.
David Taylor, assistant dean for Global Study Away, stated: “The Charlotte program will fortify our alumni network and provide extraordinary opportunities for our students to integrate their academic coursework with real-world leadership. We are building important bridges between Winston-Salem and Charlotte and between alumni and current students.”
Following a model similar to Wake Washington Center in D.C., participating students will live in furnished shared housing near The Pearl.
Sophie Spangler (’25), a communications major whose internship led to full-time employment in Charlotte, described her experience: “The opportunity to experience the city and what it is like to live and work there will be a draw for undergraduate students. You have a chance to see if you fit in—to find your favorite coffee shop or sports bar. And it will be less scary to build new friendships in a new place with other Wake Forest students doing the same thing.”
