Lawrence P. Ward has been selected to serve as the seventh president of the University of Hartford in Connecticut starting on July 1.
The University of Hartford enrolls roughly 4,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students. African Americans represent 17 percent of the undergraduate population.
Currently, Dr. Ward is the vice president for learner success and dean of campus life at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where he has worked for the past decade. Prior to his present position, he served as associate dean for academic programs for the Kogod School of Business at American University in Washington, D.C. He previously served as managing director at PRS, Inc., an organizational development consulting firm, and as a health care account executive for Aetna. In addition to his current role with Babson College, Dr. Ward holds a faculty appointment with the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
“At each stage of my career, the hallmark of my leadership success has been my ability to authentically engage within and beyond my campus community,” said Dr. Ward. “In my experience, leading with personal authenticity and humility, as well as with vision and strategy, builds credibility, increases trust, and strengthens people’s willingness to work well together. That’s how I will approach my presidency at UHart.”
Dr. Ward holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut, a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Michigan, and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.
