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Professor LaWanda Ward, ’03, the former Director of Pro Bono and Public Interest at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, has joined the faculty of Ohio University. She begins her teaching duties in Fall 2016.

Ward was director of the law school’s public interest and pro bono program for 14 years; in fact she began filling the role while still in law school. “I came to law school thinking I would do labor and employment law,” Ward said, recalling a conversation she had with a former Office of Professional Development colleague who suggested that she apply for the pro bono and public interest director position. “Here we are, 14 years later.”

At Ohio University, Ward will be teaching foundational classes for students pursuing graduate degrees in higher education and student affairs. She’ll teach courses on legal issues for doctoral students, as well as a theory to practice class for master’s students. She is no stranger to the front of the classroom; Ward taught in the political science department at IUPUI as an adjunct professor from Spring 2007 through Spring 2016.

Ward is from a family of K-12 educators. “I always said I would never be a teacher,” Ward said. “But since I started as an adjunct, I loved it. Here within the last couple of years, when I’m in that environment, it felt good to me, so I decided to seek out a tenure-track opportunity.”

In addition to her juris doctor from IU McKinney, Ward received a bachelor of arts in political science from Murry State University, a master of arts in political science from Illinois State University, and a master of science in education with a focus on educational administration from Old Dominion University. She has completed her doctoral coursework in higher education and student affairs at Indiana University and will defend her dissertation in Fall 2016. Her topic is a critical view of race-conscious admissions cases with a focus on the United States Supreme Court oral arguments.

This isn’t her first foray into higher education, aside from IU McKinney, of course. Ward began in higher education as a graduate assistant in residence life at Illinois State. “It’s what made me fall in love with higher education and college campuses,” Ward said of the experience. She learned to help students cope with academic issues, as well as personal matters. Relationship-building was a key part of that experience, and Ward finds that it’s a vital part of the experiences she’s had in higher education.

She’s excited about this new chapter in her career, but will miss IU McKinney.

“I’m going to miss my colleagues, the students, and the alumni,” Ward said. “All of these people have made my time at IU McKinney so rewarding. It hasn’t been work; it’s been something I love and enjoy. McKinney is always going to be my home. I plan to be an active alum. I won’t be in the building, but I will continue to support the law school in all the ways that McKinney needs me to.”

In the photo from left are LaWanda Ward, OPD Administrative Assistant Susan Bradley, OPD Assistant Director Sean Southern, and OPD Assistant Dean Chasity Thompson