HONOR ROLE MODEL Dr. Georgeann Ward Shares Her Passion for Teaching

Dr. Georgeann Ward recalls the moment she realized she wanted to be a college instructor. As an undergrad at the University of Houston, she started as an accounting major, but her true passion, English, prevailed. That’s when the stars aligned, and she met the professor who “changed her life.”

“Dr. Charlotte Berkowitz, who taught Women in Literature, was my first awesome role model as a female college teacher, and that is what I wanted to be to my students.”

And after a decade of working her “dream job” – as Lee College Honors Program coordinator and instructor of the Human Condition, Ward has solidified her legacy at the institution as a role model to current and former students.

“I found my career goal purpose and am working towards becoming a community college teacher because of the incredible work Dr. Ward does,” said former student Hunter Smith, division secretary, English & Humanities at Lee College and master’s candidate at University of Houston-Downtown. “She inspired me to follow in her footsteps with my career.”

“Dr. Ward’s feedback and supportive nature inspired me to do better academically,” said former student Brandon Cooper, a computer science teacher at Clear Creek Independent School District. “Her encouragement, kind words and consistency pushed me a lot further in school than I ever thought I would go.”

Polaris Magazine wanted to know what motivates Ward to want to push her students to greatness – day in and day out.

Where are you from, and how did you get to Lee College?

I am originally from Baytown and a 1995 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School. My high school experience was great. I had wonderful friends, was an honors student and was leader of the Lee Brigadiers, which was one of the only all-female drum and bugle corps in the state of Texas at that time. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Houston, I started teaching English at Ross S. Sterling High School. I then went on to earn my master’s degree at University of Houston-Clear Lake and started as a full-time instructor at Lee College. Eventually, I was promoted to my current role as Honors Program coordinator. While at Lee, I returned to UH to pursue my Ph.D. and graduated in 2018.

You have been leading the nationally recognized Honors Program for a decade. What was it like when you first started and how has it evolved?

When I started that first year, the Honors Program founder, John Britt, was still teaching part time. It was a transitional period, and I felt a lot of pressure to live up to Mr. Britt’s profound legacy. I was always impressed by his genuine love for people. Through the years, as I’ve worked closely with students to fulfill their goals, I’ve gotten to enjoy having a positive impact on students’ lives too. I love being part of the honors community and part of deep conversations that help us know ourselves and our world better.

What does the Honors Program do for students beyond the classroom?

We provide them with opportunities in four key areas: service, leadership, academics and cultural enrichment. With service, we participate in the food drives on campus and help with the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Gala. In terms of leadership, I am the advisor for the Student Honors Council, which is the student-led branch of the honors program. I attend their meetings, help them plan ice breakers, recruiting activities and coordinate enrichment events. For the academic part, my students attend conferences across the United States to present their work which gives them the skills and confidence to speak before large audiences. With the culture aspect, every semester, we go to museums and plays at the Alley Theater, and when students have other great ideas for enrichment, we run with it. We plan fun, curiosity-driven activities.

Caring, empowering, hardworking and humble are just some of the words students use to describe you. Give us one word you think best describes yourself.

Facilitator. I want to create experiences, and I want to help guide people through those experiences and make sure they are safe and productive for everyone involved. But ultimately, the value of the experience comes down to the person who is in it. To me, a facilitator is there to push you along, give you the tools you need and the support and encouragement you need, block out things that are disrupting the health of the experience and help you to have the best experience you can.

What do you want the most for your students?

My goal for students is for them to experience the most freedom they can find in their lives. I believe education opens doors for people and gives people more options and so I am always hoping for them to achieve the freedom they want.

What/who inspires you to be an educational leader and mentor?

My role as a mother of two young men drives everything I do. I had my first teaching epiphany when I was teaching high school. I was eight months pregnant with my first son. It was a challenging sophomore class that was a little bit wild. One day they were taking a quiz, silently writing, and I was just standing there holding my belly and it dawned on me there was someone at home who loved every single one of those kids as much as I already loved my unborn son. It reminded me that in everything I do I want to treat students the way I would want my sons to be treated. I want to give them the respect and fairness and kindness that I would want for my kids.

Do you have a life mantra?

Yes, and it’s posted outside my office: “Do the best you can in the time you have, with the resources you have, and then give yourself some grace.” ✪