LaWanda Ward

LaWanda Ward is an Associate Professor of Higher Education, African Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Pennsylvania State University, where she also directs the Center for the Study of Higher Education. Her work focuses on social justice, equity, and inclusion in higher education, guided by Critical Race Theory, Black Feminist Thought, and Intersectionality. Prior to her academic career, she held roles in student affairs and legal career coaching at institutions like Indiana University McKinney School of Law, where she established pro bono programs.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs (Indiana University)
• J.D. (Indiana University McKinney School of Law)
• M.S. in Educational Administration (Old Dominion University)
• M.A. and B.A. in Political Science (Illinois State University & Murray State University)

Her research critically examines legal issues in higher education, including race-conscious admissions, free speech, and academic freedom. Recent work highlights Black women's experiences in academia, institutional racism, and pandemic impacts on marginalized faculty. Articles frequently analyze Supreme Court arguments and CRT's role in policy discourse.

Her professional trajectory reflects over 20 years of advocacy in educational equity, spanning residence life administration and legal career mentorship. Current projects emphasize dismantling carceral logics in academia and reimagining Title IX frameworks to protect Black students.