Dr. Jessica Ward

Dr. Jessica Ward’s passion and scholarship is focused on topics of Gender and Sexual Diversity. Ward is originally from Fort Valley, GA and she attended Georgia College and State University where she earned a B.A. in Rhetoric and Political Science.  Dr. Ward also obtained a master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Kansas and a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Indiana State University (ISU).  Ward began her professional career at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in University Housing and Dining Services as a Resident Director then as an Area Director.  Ward then worked for six years in the Office of Student Standards at EIU as the Assistant Director. Once Dr. Ward completed her PhD she began working at the University of Indianapolis as the Director of Student Support/Title IX Coordinator then as the Associate Vice President/Dean of Students/Title IX Coordinator. Throughout her career, Ward has been committed to educating future higher education leaders, which she continues to do as an adjunct instructor in the EIU and ISU higher education master’s degree programs.