Graduate Student Spotlight | Laurie Ward

"As a student, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the MFA cohort bonded during our first residency. We spent nearly 10 hours a day together and got to know each other, not just through our writing, but also on a personal level."

MFA in Creative Writing

Program

Creative Writing (MFA)

Department

English & Communication Arts

Graduate School
Graduate Student

Awards
English & Communication Arts
Graduate School
Graduate Student

06/05/2025

Laurie Ward is a current student in Hood College’s MFA in Creative Writing program. Professionally, Ward is currently the vice president for marketing and communications at the College and has been working in marketing in higher education at various institutions since 2004. Ward is graduate of St. John Fisher University, where she majored in communications/journalism, with a minor in English.

Ward has recently earned multiple awards and publication invitations for her work completed in the program. Her essay, “Salt Potatoes,” was an honorable mention for Big Brick Review’s essay contest and accepted for publication; her essay, “Stitched with Love,” was accepted for inclusion in a book of essays to be published through Poet’s Choice; and her short story, “The Diner,” was accepted for inclusion in America’s Future: The 50th Anniversary Anthology of The Washington Writers’ Publishing House.

We spoke with Ward about her experiences in the MFA program and what it's like to go through the publication process.

Tell us about your education and career background.

I am from Syracuse, New York, and attended St. John Fisher College (now University), where I majored in communications/journalism, with a minor in English.

I have always worked in the non-profit world, first at museums and then higher education. I was the public relations manager at the Rochester Museum & Science Center before going to the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore.

I made the jump to higher education in 2004. I was the marketing communications manager from 2004 through 2012. I became the chief marketing officer at Delaware Valley College (also now University), where I was responsible for the branding and marketing of the transition from college to university.

I joined Hood College in February 2017, where I am the vice president for marketing and communications.

Why did you choose Hood College and this program? 

After more than 20 years in higher education, I had never taken advantage of the educational benefits. It seemed awkward to tell faculty during the day how to market their programs and then have them teach me at night. But when the MFA program was being developed at Hood, I was very excited. It was a type of writing that I haven’t done in a long time and is different from my day-to-day work. I anxiously waited for the program to launch and am excited to be in the first cohort.

What do you enjoy most about being at Hood College? 

The community, for sure. As an employee, I love the sense of community among the faculty and staff, as well as the students. I am fortunate to live close to campus, so I can walk my dog several times a day and get to know students in a way that is different from when they come to my office.

As a student, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the MFA cohort bonded during our first residency. We spent nearly 10 hours a day together and got to know each other, not just through our writing, but also on a personal level. I am excited for the second residency.

What advice do you have to get published?

Don’t take no for answer. Keep sending your work into various journals and magazines. Look for every opportunity for your writing to be published.

Any other information/fun facts that you would like to add?

I am a huge baseball fan and have so many amazing photos and experiences from my time working at the Babe Ruth Birthplace, including traveling with Babe’s daughter. My pets have all been named after famous Yankees: Casey (Stengel), Bernie (Williams) and now I have Tino (Martinez).

Inspired by Laurie’s accomplishments with her MFA? Ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College’s graduate programs, such as creative writing, by clicking here.