Thomas Ward, D.Ed.

Thomas Ward is Dean of the International College and Vice President for Internationalization at the University of Bridgeport. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he did his doctoral studies at the Institute of Social Studies of the Catholic Institute of Paris and at De La Salle University in the Philippines. He wrote his doctoral thesis on the potential role that four development models (Western democracy, Marxism-Leninism, Liberation Theology, and Confucian-based Social Theory) could play in the Philippines’ future political economy. His thesis advisor was Brother Andrew Gonzalez who later served as Minister of Education of the Philippines.

Dr. Ward began his career as a risk analyst for Equibank in Pennsylvania and later worked for the Bank of America in France. He then served as a lecturer and researcher on comparative political systems for over a decade doing presentations for legislators and for other government officials in the United States and abroad. Ward has lived and worked in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the United States and has traveled in more than 60 countries. He participated in a Track II diplomatic initiative to North Korea in late 1992 and served as an intermediary in the process that led to Pyongyang’s June 23, 1992 announced suspension of “Anti-American month.”

Dr. Ward lectures in English, French and Spanish and has studied several other European and Asian languages. He holds a Diplôme (Hons.) in French Language and Literature (European institutions concentration) from the University of Paris-Sorbonne. He also holds a professional certification in Juridical French (DFP Juridique) from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris and is a recipient of the French Ministry of National Education’s Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française (DALF C2/ Humanities and Social Science Track). Ward has been a visiting scholar in the Peoples Republic of China and a guest lecturer at the Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, at De La Salle University in the Philippines and at the Catholic University of La Plata in Argentina. He has served as a Human Rights Commissioner in New York’s Dutchess County, as a member of the Connecticut Department of Higher Education’s Advisory Committee on International Education Policy and as a Special Examiner for the Connecticut Board for State Academic Awards.

Ward joined the University of Bridgeport in 1993. He represents the University of Bridgeport at the United Nations Department of Public Information section for NGOs and serves on the Committee on Teaching about the United Nations (CTAUN). He has done pioneer writing and research on the political economy of NGOs and their role in human security. He has written numerous books and articles on issues related to religion, culture, development and governance. One of his articles is included here for your review.

 

 

Selected Publications, Articles & Presentations (PDF)