On Friday, April 29, Dr. Wanda E. Ward ’72 was inducted into Westminster’s Thompson Science and Technology Hall of Fame.

Dr. Ward is Executive Associate Chancellor for Public Engagement, Office of the Chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she provides strategic leadership for the university and broader community to advance the university's land-grant, public engagement mission.

Prior to joining the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Ward served in several senior leadership positions throughout her 26 years at the National Science Foundation. In addition, she served as Assistant Director for Broadening Participation at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), White House Executive Office of the President (2015-2017).

Ward served on the U.S. President's National Science and Technology Council subcommittees and interagency working groups in the areas of the social, behavioral and economic sciences, and science education and workforce development. At the international level, she served as a member of the International Social Science Council (ISSC) Committee for Developing and Transition Economies (CoDATE) and the ISSC Executive Committee.

The Thompson Science and Technology Hall of Fame began in 2005 through the generosity of former faculty member and college counselor Nancy Beane, her husband, John, and their daughter, Kathryn Beane '97. The Thompson Hall of Fame was established in honor of Nancy's father, John Will Thompson, who was a career research chemist. The Hall of Fame recognizes Westminster alumni who have made significant contributions to a professional field related to the sciences, medicine, and/or engineering.

Alumni who have received this special honor include: 

• 2006: Dr. Phillip Alveda '82
• 2008: Dr. J. Phillip Saul '74
• 2009: Dr. Marc Lipsitch '87
• 2013: Dr. Laurie Lee Humpries '62
• 2018: Dr. Carter Roberts '78
• 2022: Dr. Wanda E. Ward '72  

Plaques of each Hall of Fame inductee, including biographies and a headshot, can be found inside the Warren Lecture Room in Robinson Hall.  

Before the induction ceremony, Dr. Ward served as the 2022 Bolch Science Talk speaker during Upper School assembly. The Bolch Science Talk, established in 1994 by Carl and Susan Bolch, takes place annually and aims to promote greater interest in various science disciplines among students. Westminster has been fortunate to engage many of its alumni as Bolch Science Talk speakers to come back to campus and share their journeys in science with our students.