Spartans of UD: Annalee Ward
Apr 11, 2018 | University Relations staff
Spartans of UD highlights what makes University of Dubuque special – the people who live, work, and study on campus. Annalee Ward is director of the Wendt Center for Character Education and a professor of communication. She arrived at UD in 2010 as a scholar-in-residence and was later an interim director of distance education. Annalee’s husband, Mark Ward, is vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at UD.
ANNALEE WARD
Director of the Wendt Center for Character Education l Professor of Communication
1. Why did you decide to become a UD Spartan?
“My husband, Mark Ward, and I were both at Trinity Christian College, seemingly ‘lifers’ there. I began the Communication Arts Department and was its chair. He taught business and was associate provost. He was encouraged by a former chancellor to be open to using his gifts in administration. Long story short … we believed God called us here by what President Bullock and others were saying. Our gifts and passion for Christian higher education seemed to be a fit with the needs here and the door opened. It was a challenging decision because we loved where we were and what we were doing, but it was the right move. We were delighted to join UD’s mission, and we’re delighted to call UD and Dubuque home now!”
2. What do you enjoy most about your role as director of the Wendt Center for Character Education?
“The opportunity to focus on encouraging and supporting this campus to develop and grow in virtue and the fact that I get to work with all audiences – students, faculty, staff, and the Board of Trustees. And to do that, I get to draw from a variety of interests. God has woven together so many of my experiences and pieces of education into one position where I seem to need it all from my education and work in communication, theology, theatre, ethics, public relations, and media production. Shaping character for lives of purpose is a privilege and an awesome responsibility, but it’s also deeply satisfying.”
3. What should students know about the Wendt Center for Character Education?
“We exist to help you and all of campus grow toward being the most excellent people God made you to be — people who live out their integrity, justice, and compassion. We do this in many ways through programs, curriculum work, athletics, and faculty and staff initiatives.”
4. Each semester, the Wendt Center for Character Education hosts a Wendt Character Lecture. The guest lecturers speak about integrity, justice, compassion, and other topics of character. Why host these lectures?
“They are a way to communicate the importance of excellent character whether it’s by someone modeling it or reflecting on an important topic, as well as a way to challenge our community and to share UD’s mission.”
5. Do you have a favorite quote or saying?
“The Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Ps. 100:5
