Skip to content

Opening Doors

Teri Ward, B.A. ’90, M.Ed ’99

Director, Health Sciences Center Minority Students Program
Chair, Black Opportunity Fund Seattle

In her 29 years at the University of Washington, Teri Ward has advised and mentored thousands of students. As director of the Health Sciences Center Minority Students Program, she teaches study skills to incoming freshmen, connects students with hands-on research opportunities, and ensures that the program offers academic support, activities and a community of peers for health-sciences students from underrepresented groups. As the inaugural chair of the UW’s Black Opportunity Fund for Seattle, Ward helped raise $1 million to support Black students, faculty and staff. To honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the UW salutes Ward’s enduring commitment to opening doors for those who have historically been excluded from education.

“Students who are marginalized just have not had the opportunities that others have. It’s important to have structures and programming to help all students succeed.”