Babson’s Lawrence P. Ward Earns Distinguished Alumni Award from Penn

Listen

Lawrence P. Ward, Babson College’s vice president and dean of campus life, recently was honored by the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (GSE).

Lawrence P. Ward holds the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award
Lawrence P. Ward, Babson College’s vice president and dean of campus life

Ward received the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management program. The award recognizes Penn GSE alumni who have demonstrated significant and effective leadership and management and have had a substantial impact or influence at an organizational, regional, or national level.

Ward earned his doctorate in education from Penn GSE in 2011, and he now teaches a course on crisis management in the program. At the awards presentation at the 18th Higher Education Leadership Conference this month in Philadelphia, he gave a moving and inspiring address about his experiences and his purpose.

“As an educator, a leader, and a thinking person, it is both my leadership mission and my ministry to shine a light on that which makes others feel capable, seen, and heard,” he said. “To be both a sounding board and a springboard. To authentically, and vulnerably, share my story such that others might have license to discover their own story. To speak up, speak out, and some days to show out as an example of what the world needs to see more of, especially from people who look like me.”

Ryan Travia, the associate vice president for student success at Babson, also earned his doctorate in higher education management from Penn’s GSE and attended the gala and awards dinner.

Watch Ward’s full acceptance speech:

Posted in Babson Briefs

More from Babson Briefs »

Latest Stories

Side-by-side screenshots of the moment caught on camera
When Scandal Strikes the C-Suite: What Two Babson Professors Say Companies Should Do  A viral Coldplay kiss cam moment involving a CEO and human resources leader at a tech startup rocked the company to its core. Babson management professors provided insight into how ventures can survive a leadership scandal.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
July 21, 2025

Posted in Insights

Businesswoman practices deep breathing exercise at workplace desk
How Employees Navigate Mental Illness in the Workplace and What Employers Can Do to Help Emily Rosado-Solomon, an assistant professor at Babson, looks at how employees with mental illness handle their symptoms while at work, a topic that is understudied.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
July 17, 2025

Posted in Insights

Amazone Prime van
Prime Day Breaks Records as Shoppers Race Against Tariff Uncertainty Record Prime Day sales were powered by promotions and an atmosphere of economic uncertainty driving an urgency for early purchases, Babson retail expert Lauren Beitelspacher said.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
July 16, 2025

Posted in Insights