Dr. David Ward

David M. Ward, Ph.D., is Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Wilkes University. Dr. Ward joined Wilkes in June of 2021. Prior to coming to Wilkes, Dr. Ward served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where he led an academic unit that included 36 undergraduate and 17 graduate programs serving a total 7,698 students. During his time as Provost, UNCP experienced significant enrollment growth and created a shared vision around new program development and retention.

Dr. Ward’s other academic leadership experiences include serving as Dean of the College of Health Professions at Armstrong State University in Savannah, Georgia where he led the effort to grow the college’s enrollment and secure funding for the construction of a new Health Professions building. Dr. Ward also served for five years as Dean of the Westbrook College of Health Professions at the University of New England and had previously spent twelve years at the Medical University of South Carolina as both a faculty member and Department Chair.

Dr. Ward received his B.A. from Colgate University and an M.P.A. and Ph.D. from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.