Bio

Wanya Ward serves as the Assistant Director for the TRIO Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at North Carolina State University. In this role, he supports first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented undergraduate students in preparing for doctoral study through research engagement, graduate school preparation, and academic skill development. Wanya Ward received his B.S. in Biology at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and his M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration at North Carolina State University. His work focuses on creating structured, high-impact programming that strengthens students’ research capacity, writing skills, and readiness for graduate education. He is particularly interested in cultivating a strong sense of belonging within academic spaces and helping students navigate pathways into advanced study with confidence and clarity.