2023-2024 Student Leadership

Introducing the new vestry team for the 2023-2024 year! These members of ESF have gone above and beyond to shape and develop ESF into the community it is today. Reach out to them with any questions about ESF, life at Wake Forest or anything else you might need!

Kate Upchurch, President

Hi! My name is Kate Upchurch, and I am excited to serve as ESF President this year. I am originally from Austin, Texas, and am double-majoring in Elementary Education and Studio Art, hoping to become a primary elementary school teacher when I graduate from Wake Forest in May. ESF is such a special community to me, and I am so glad you are a part of it!

Charlie Huebner, Vice President

 My name is Charlie Huebner and I am fortunate to serve as ESF's Vice President this year! I am a junior and a politics major, and I am currently studying abroad at Casa Artom in Venice. While being abroad is amazing, I can't wait to get back to ESF in the spring. 

Hank Laxton, Treasurer & Communications

Hi y’all! I’m Hank!

Lillie Sutton, Service Coordinator

 Hey y'all! My name is Lillie Sutton and I am ESF's community service coordinator for this year. I am a junior BMB major from Clemmons, NC. I am currently studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark! While I have loved my time abroad so far, I am excited to get back to campus and see old friends and meet new ones in the special community of ESF! :)

Alyssa Eaton, Student Outreach

 Hi all! My name is Alyssa Eaton and I am a Junior from Winston-Salem, NC double majoring in history and art history. I love travelling (I can get a bit stir-crazy at times), reading, and trying new flavors of tea and coffee. I enjoy hanging out on campus at the fire pits and sitting on the quads on beautiful days. I can't wait to meet all of you and have the best semester ever!! I will be in D.C. in the Spring but I will still keep in touch with this amazing ESF family.

Eddie Bricio, Student Outreach

 Hey guys! I’m Eddie Bricio, a sophomore religious studies major from Raleigh, NC. I love watching sports like football, basketball, NASCAR (as seen above), and actually pretty much anything. I’ve also spent time at a summer camp where I’ve worked with all ages of youth as a counselor and boat lifeguard. At ESF, I’m one of your student outreach coordinators and I’m glad to call ESF my community on campus. Can’t wait for the rest of this year with y’all.

Olivia Sturgess, Communications

Hello! My name is Olivia Sturges and I’m one of the social media coordinators this year! I’m a junior from Louisburg NC, majoring in applied statistics with a minor in classical studies. While I won’t be on campus this semester because I’m studying abroad in London, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and meeting all of the new members once I return!

Ashleigh Hampson, Social Coordinator

Hey! My name is Ashleigh and I’m a junior from Atlanta, GA. I’m a politics and international affairs and religious studies major. A fun fact about me is that I have two pugs (if you want to see a picture of them I will be happy to show you!) My favorite food on campus is lunch in the Magnolia Room, followed very closely by the meals that ESF members make on Wednesday nights!

Cooper Hough, Student Outreach

Hi! My name is Cooper Hough

The Rev. James D Franklin III

Campus & Young Adult Missioner

James is the young adult missioner for the Episcopal Church in Winston Salem. Working primarily with college students at Wake Forest University, James also works with students from Salem College, UNC School of the Arts and Winston Salem State University. James landed his dream job that combines his love of coaching students, providing spiritual direction, preaching, writing, and helping create beloved community. James holds degrees from UNC Chapel Hill (BA) and Seminary of the Southwest (MDiv). 

James also loves: inserting dad jokes in sermons; challenging students on campus to talk about hard topics; bringing his kids (Grace and Corinne) to campus; bringing his dog (Buster) to campus for stress relief; and can usually be found in campus coffee shops shepherding students through crises and through figuring out what it means to follow Jesus on a college campus.

He wrote a book too! Belovedness: Finding God (and Self) on Campus is available wherever you buy books!