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Professor LaWanda Ward, '03, an assistant professor of education and a research associate at the Center for the Study of Higher Education at Penn State University, has been celebrated for mentorship of students. She is in her first year at Penn State.

Professor Ward received the Bill Boyd Mentorship award, and was nominated by two of her J.D./Ph.D. students, Vanessa Miller and Rafael Alvardo. (In the photo from left are Miller, Professor Ward, who is holding the award, and Alvardo.)

"I am so honored and humbled by this recognition," Professor Ward said. "My experiences at McKinney as a student and administrator continue to influence what I do at PSU." Ward was the director of IU McKinney's pro bono program for 14 years and began filling the role while still in law school. She began her teaching career at Ohio University in Fall 2016, and began at Penn State in Fall 2018. Professor Ward taught as an adjunct professor in the political science department at IUPUI from Spring 2007 to Spring 2016. 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 completed her doctoral coursework in higher education and student affairs at Indiana University.

The award is named for William L. Boyd, who served on the faculty at Penn State for 28 years. He was a renowned researcher and educator in the field of educational leadership, with a specialty in education polity and politics as well as educational administration.