JOE WARD
FACULTY
PROFILE
PROFESSOR, LAWYER, NOVELIST
Joe Ward, Assistant Professor of English at PHSC Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, always wanted to be a writer. With this in mind, he began his college education studying English. Ward thought he might go into teaching while building a writing career. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Florida, and like many college students, switched gears. He transferred to Florida State University to pursue a career in law. Ward graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 1998.
He spent the next 14 years in the profession— as a clerk with a Palm Beach County appellate judge working in criminal and civil law, an attorney with Holland & Knight focusing on commercial litigation, and then six years as assistant general counsel at Southwest Florida Water Management District( SFWMD), in Brooksville.
While living in Palm Beach County, Ward began a Master’ s in English literature program at Florida Atlantic University. He transferred to USF when he took his position at SFWMD.“ After six years at Southwest Florida Water Management District, the political landscape was changing fast and I felt it was time to think about my future,” said Ward.
Ward became an adjunct instructor at PHSC’ s North Campus. Then, upon leaving SFWMD, accepted a full-time position at the College. He moved to his current location at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch when it opened in 2014.
Ward teaches a variety of courses including English Comp I and II, creative writing, world cinema, and developmental writing. He is the faculty advisor of the Creative Arts Club on Porter Campus.“ Each year, the Club focuses on something different, depending on student interest, whether it’ s writing, drawing, painting, etc. We also host a signature event and participate in a community service project,” said Ward.
Assistant Professor Joe Ward relaxes in his office at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.
He helped launch a Sigma Kappa Delta English Honor Society at PHSC.“ We graduated our first inductees last spring. I am hoping to expand to other campuses in the near future,” said Ward. He also used his expertise in law to develop a Law and Literature course for PHSC, which may be offered in a future semester.
Between his roles at PHSC, being a husband and father of three boys, ages 9, 11, and 14, Ward finds time for his passion— writing non-fiction novels.“ My studies in law honed my research skills, ultimately preparing me for my writing career. I spent a full year researching my first novel,” said Ward, who writes under a pen name and has hopes of finishing his seventh novel this summer. He remains a member of the Florida Bar, keeping him connected to the legal field – and well versed in a profession that certainly must prove useful in developing future novels.
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