We are saddened to announce that William “Bill” Conner, Professor Emeritus of Biology, passed away on September 10, 2026.
Dr. Conner joined Wake Forest’s biology faculty in 1988. He retired in 2022. At Wake Forest, his teaching reflected his interests in insect biology and animal behavior, paired with a consistent commitment to teaching biology at the introductory level (e.g. Comparative Physiology). In addition to his service as Director of Entrepreneurship and service on many other university committees, Bill was Chair of Biology from 1992 to 1998.
At his retirement, Dr. Susan Fahrbach (Chair of Biology) shared, “Bill’s service as the Faculty Director of the WFU Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship Program, from 2010 to 2016, inspired him to help students build bridges between biology and entrepreneurship. He developed courses that united biology and business students, ultimately writing his own textbook on biomimicry.” He was known as a favorite professor among Wake Forest students.
We grieve Dr. Conner’s death and extend our condolences to his family and friends, as well as those at Wake Forest who had the opportunity to know him.
The obituary for Dr. Conner may be found here.
Each of us is affected by loss in different ways. The Wake Forest community is encouraged to seek support by calling 336-758-CARE (2273) or visiting the We Are Wake website to learn more about resources offered by the University.
This announcement was posted by Inside WFU.