Jessica Ward is a Senior Solutions Specialist at Grand River Solutions. Most of Jessica’s career has been spent working in Title IX, student conduct, residence life, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion education.
Prior to joining Grand River Solutions, Jessica was the Associate Vice President/Dean of Students/Title IX Coordinator at the University of Indianapolis. In this role Jessica was responsible for all Title IX training and compliance for students, faculty, and staff; led the Behavioral Intervention Team as the Chief Conduct Officer; facilitated student conduct and Title IX hearings; was responsible for all aspects of the residence life program and worked closely with retention efforts. Before entering this role, Jessica served as the Assistant Director for the Office of Student Standards at Eastern Illinois University where she was responsible for training hearing panel members, conducting organizational/hazing investigations, and providing alcohol, drug, and bystander education. While in this role, she also served as the Coordinator for Gender and Sexual Diversity at Eastern Illinois University where she overhauled the Safe Zone training program and created a Trans and Differing Abilities inclusive Center for Gender and Sexual Diversity.
Jessica earned her Doctor of Philosophy from Indiana State University in Leadership in Higher education. Her dissertation title was “The Lived Experiences of Transgender Higher Education Professionals.” Jessica earned a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and Political Science from Georgia College and State University.