Kokkonos Receives 2026 CBOV Staff Leadership Award

By Erin Marlow, Communications Specialist, Office of the Dean of the College

Sandy Kokkonos, Executive Assistant to the Dean of the College, has been awarded the 2026 College Board of Visitors Staff Leadership Award. Established in 2020, this award is the Board’s most prestigious honor given to an individual staff member. 

Kokkonos began her Wake Forest career as an Administrative Assistant in the Office of the Dean of the College before serving for seven years as the Executive Assistant to the Provost. Early on, Kokkonos distinguished herself as an invaluable member of the University — ensuring then-Provost Kersh was supported through an array of responsibilities while managing day-to-day operations with exceptional institutional insight and composure. 

“She has mentored staff, supported faculty, and guided leadership through seasons of change with unwavering loyalty,” said Dr. Amanda Griffith, Associate Dean for Academic Planning. “Sandy Kokkonos embodies the very spirit of staff leadership.”

Upon returning to the Office of the Dean of the College in 2022, Kokkonos further solidified her reputation as an indispensable pillar of the University community. One of her many tasks is to coordinate the monthly College Faculty Meetings with keen organization. From planning the agenda to executing seamless behind-the-scenes logistics, Kokkonos is central to these meetings’ success. 

“Sandy keeps me pointed in the right direction at all times and stays at least a few steps ahead of me. Equally important is the care and laughter that she brings to the office every day,” said Dr. Jackie Krasas, Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

In addition to facilitating the College Faculty Meetings, Kokkonos provides high-level administrative support to the Dean, oversees scheduling, and plans signature lectures and other College-hosted events that bring our campus community together. She consistently anticipates challenges and resolves them before they arise. In all that she does, Kokkonos serves as an unwavering source of support, blending professional diligence with her naturally vibrant energy. 

“She models excellence in her work while bringing a warmth and compassion to everyone who gets to know her,” said Sean Howard, Senior Director of Development for the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. “Sandy’s contributions to Wake Forest are countless, and for those of us lucky enough to know her, her impact can be measured in the laughter and joy we share together.”

As the true heart of the Office of the Dean of the College, Kokkonos combines administrative excellence with a genuine warmth that elevates everyone around her. 

We congratulate Sandy Kokkonos as this year’s co-recipient of the College Board of Visitors Staff Leadership Award. 

“Sandy models excellence in her work while bringing a warmth and compassion to everyone who gets to know her. Her contributions to Wake Forest are countless, and for those of us lucky enough to know her, her impact can be measured in the laughter and joy we share together.”

Sean Howard, Senior Director of Development for the College and graduate school of arts & Sciences