
Wake worked with faculty and stakeholders on a strategic plan designed to increase college impact on local and global communities. She developed a faculty practice model to supplement the college budget. During her deanship, the nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery, direct-entry M.S.N. and advanced nurse scholar programs were started. The Institute for Natural Family Planning and Marquette Clinic for Women and Children; an endowed professorship in women’s health; and training programs in Kenya and the Republic of Georgia were established. She also planned the Institute for End of Life Care Education in cooperation with the Aurora Visiting Nurse Association.
Wake was Marquette provost from 2002-2007 and developed faculty-shared governance, student learning assessment and global education. She returned to faculty as the Rev. John P. Raynor, S.J., Endowed Chair.