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Wake Forest University (WFU) Face to Face Speaker Program, regarded as one of the country’s finest platforms for distinguished and engaging discussions, has announced its 2025-26 lineup of speakers. This is Season Five of the series, which has brought world-class names to Winston-Salem including George W. Bush, Liz Cheney, Jon Meacham, and Thomas Friedman, inspiring unifying conversations in the community and the opportunity to engage in intellectual experiences. The program also benefits students at Wake Forest and other area schools, providing access and experience to these fantastic speakers. When possible, Face to Face offers an opportunity for a student-led Q&A with speakers before the keynote event. WFU students and those from area schools are invited to attend at no charge. See this page for more information. The topics for selecting speakers for the Face to Face program are Political Affairs, Social Justice and Global Issues, Arts and Culture, and Innovation and Business.
Individual Tickets Available Beginning August 1, 2025
Individual tickets to Face to Face will be available for purchase beginning August 1, 2025 at this website. Season Subscriptions will also continue to be available here.
2025-26 Face To Face Speakers.
Photo source: Wake Forest Face To Face webpage
Following is the list of speakers and their information provided by The WFU Face to Face Speaker forum.
Change in Program
Chris Paul To Replace Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Sept 16, 2025
An NBA All-Star, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Wake Forest basketball legend, Chris Paul, will step up to serve as the keynote speaker, replacing Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who was postponed to a later date due to unforeseen circumstances. Tickets to the Johnson keynote will be honored as entry to the Paul event. For those who do not have tickets and would like to attend, good seats to the Paul keynote event remain available and can be purchased at facetoface.wfu.edu.
Chris Paul – September 16, 2025 – LJVM Coliseum
Chris Paul is, once again, stepping up when Wake Forest needs him.
A West Forsyth High School and Wake Forest University basketball stand-out who is affectionately known as the Point God, Paul is a 12-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold medalist. He was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history. In 2021, Paul became the first player in league history to record 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in their career. Currently, he plays for the LA Clippers. Paul’s New York Times best-selling memoir, “Sixty-One: Life Lessons from Papa, On and Off the Court,” is a powerful and unexpected memoir of family, faith, tragedy, and life’s most important lessons. His business footprint is diverse and includes a multi-platform production company, Ohh Dip!!! Productions. Through the Chris Paul Family Foundation, he continues to provide resources that enrich and strengthen underserved communities nationwide.
See more information about Chris Paul in our Who’s Who article.
Mitt Romney – November 6, 2025, Wake Forest’s Wait Chapel
A statesman, businessman, and former Republican presidential nominee, Romney offers insights into leadership and America’s most pressing challenges. As Governor of Massachusetts, he pioneered landmark healthcare law. Romney also led the 2002 Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Winter Olympics, turning the struggling games into a success story. As a US Senator, Romney was a leading voice for fiscal discipline, climate action, and America’s role in the world. He played a key role in historic bipartisan legislation on improving the nation’s physical infrastructure, emergency COVID relief, marriage equality with religious liberty protections, and gun safety.
Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster – February 26, 2026, Wake Forest’s Wait Chapel
McMaster was national security advisor from 2017-2018. He served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for 34 years before retiring as a lieutenant general in June 2018. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at Hoover Institution, Distinguished University Fellow at Arizona State University, and a lecturer at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. He has authored three New York Times bestselling books and has published scores of essays, articles, and book reviews on leadership, history, and the future of warfare in many publications.
Cynthia Erivo – April 15, 2026, LJVM Coliseum
Face To Face will conclude Season Five with Erivo, a three-time Academy Award nominee and star of the movie “Wicked.” She captivates the audience while serving as a fearless voice for women and people of color and setting new standards for the arts. Erivo has an uncanny ability to shape and drive narratives across entertainment while continuously evolving her work with poignant breakthrough characters that hit emotional cores and transcend race, gender, and cultural boundaries. In “Wicked,” she starts as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda. The film “Wicked: Part Two” will debut in November 2025.
Face To Face Tickets And Information
The Face To Face programs will be held at the locations listed with each speaker. The events begin at 7:30pm and end at 9:15pm. You can find information about parking for each location at this site. Individual tickets will be available August 1, 2025, and season subscriptions are now available for this outstanding series. You can order tickets here. WFU students, faculty, and staff are eligible for free admission to keynote events. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and a valid WFU ID is required. Visit FAQ for more information on where to obtain these tickets.
After The Speakers Event
Why end a stimulating evening by just heading home and watching TV? Enjoy the experience even further and carry on the conversation after the event with friends at a local coffee shop or wine bar – there are many here in Winston-Salem. While you’re at it, have an evening snack, too!
Have you attended any of the past Face To Face programs? Tell us about it in the comments.
