Judith Ward honored in retirement

The newly renovated Waisman Center Early Childhood Wing will be dedicated to retired administrator Judith B. Ward, honoring her contributions to the university and long commitment to campus early childhood programs.

Ward retired June 30 as executive associate director of the Waisman Center, a facility devoted to furthering knowledge of human development and developmental disabilities. She had been with Waisman since 1995, supervising administrative services and coordinating outreach, long-range planning and government relations.

Ward played a leadership role in the recent expansion of the Waisman Center, which involved a major fund-raising effort. A strong advocate for Waisman’s Early Childhood and Early Intervention programs, she promoted the benefits of the children with disabilities programs to the community. In March, the center received a $2 million gift from the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation to support the expansion project.

In recognition of her efforts, a plaque will be placed in the new wing that acknowledges both Ward’s contributions and the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation gift. A dedication and retirement ceremony is planned for August.

“Judith has an outstanding record of service to the university in advancing programs for early childhood and for people with developmental disabilities,” says Marsha Seltzer, acting director of the Waisman Center. “Her entire career has been dedicated to supporting education across the state of Wisconsin, and she’s bringing to a close a remarkable 35-year relationship with the university.”

Prior to joining the Waisman Center, Ward worked for the UW System administration from 1984-1994. She served as an assistant and later associate vice president for government/agency relations in the Office of University Relations. From 1991 to 1993 she was acting vice president for university relations. From 1974-1984, Ward worked with the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, as a legislative fiscal analyst and later the education program supervisor.

The Chicago native has long ties with UW–Madison that began as an undergraduate. Ward received her bachelors degree in history and education from UW–Madison in 1964. She began her first position with UW–Madison in 1966, as a correspondence instructor for UW-Extension.

As a chancellor’s office associate during her husband David Ward’s tenure as chancellor, from 1993 to 2001, she was actively involved with UW–Madison and the Madison community. She was a member of the University Child Care Committee and supported the activities of the University League, the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the UW Foundation. She also served on numerous corporate and community boards, including Madison Opera, the Madison Downtown Rotary Foundation, Friends of Monona Terrace and United Way of Dane County. In 1997, she was named a YWCA Woman of Distinction. # # #