Ms. Ward, senior consultant, was the Executive Associate Director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center and former Associate Vice President for Government Relations at the University of Wisconsin System. She served the University of Wisconsin for over 15 years in senior leadership positions involving external relations, development, communications, and financial management. Prior to joining Academic Search in 2004, she was an independent development and external relations consultant to universities, nonprofit organizations and foundations.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center is one of 9 national centers dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases and the largest inter-disciplinary biomedical and behavioral research center within the University’s Graduate School. As Executive Associate Director, Ms. Ward directed financial, development, government relations, outreach, and management functions and served as a member of the Waisman Center's leadership team. Between 1994 and 2001, the team directed the planning and private fund raising for a $26 million building addition to house gene and stem cell research, brain imaging and early childhood programs.
Previously, Ms. Ward served as the Associate Vice President for Government Relations for the University of Wisconsin System, representing the University in both the executive and legislative branches to gain approval of state budgets and legislation affecting higher education. For two years during her decade with the UW-System, Ms. Ward simultaneously served as the Acting Vice President of University Relations, the senior external relations advisor to the President and Board of Regents.
Throughout her career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin System, Ms. Ward had close working relationships with the University of Wisconsin Foundation, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association. She worked closely with the university academic, budget and communications offices. In addition, she chaired and served on numerous search committees for senior university positions.
While Ms. Ward has assisted presidential and senior administrative searches for Academic Search, her practice has primarily focused on the position of chief advancement officer. Over the last five years, her clients have included small private liberal arts colleges, public and private research universities and public comprehensive universities. She appreciates the unique advancement needs of each institution and works collaboratively with her clients to develop search strategies to fit their needs.
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