Jimmy Ward

Philosophy and Focus: Professor Jimmy Ward strives to create artists who are well-versed in all areas of design, production, performance, and management so that they have the most complete understanding of the theatre industry that Radford can provide. He believes that the process of production work is more important than its product and that students will most often rise to challenges presented. He gives students opportunities to apply what they've learned in a supportive and nurturing environment where it is acceptable to fail. He is instrumental in building the solid foundation of hard and soft skills students need after undergraduate studies regardless of the career they pursue.

Background: As a young theatre student at Radford University, Jimmy Ward was nurtured and challenged to learn and grow in the ways that were best for him specifically. “I was held accountable for my failures, and my successes were celebrated by my peers and faculty mentors. It was an entirely supportive environment in which I was able to push the boundaries of what I thought it meant to be a theatre artist and to make discoveries of what might lie ahead. I knew upon graduation that I had been given a gift, and I also knew that I wanted to one day be able to give that same gift to other young students just starting on their educational journeys.” After 25 years designing in professional theatre as well as working in various small college programs as adjunct faculty, the liberal arts philosophy, the collaborative environment among faculty and students, and the permission to try and fail, are traits that make teaching at Radford like coming home. 

Teaching: As Head of Design for the Department of Theatre, Professor Ward teaches multiple design and production courses each year. He also frequently commits to independent study opportunities for students who want advanced coursework not usually offered by the department, and he continues teaching beyond the classroom in numerous capacities such as resume and portfolio development, regional design competitions, and design and production responsibilities for department productions. Professor Ward consistently models and requires professional level commitment from students. In this way students experience the realities of theatre production in tangible ways that extend beyond any classroom preparing them for future roles across the industry. Accountability is critical, and his students know that they are expected to meet a high bar. His method works. He now has theatre department alumni earning graduate degrees in theatre arts at programs across the country and other alumni holding jobs in Production Management and Technical Direction, Props Artistry, Wardrobe (Broadway), and Lighting and Costume Design (Disney), among others.

Research/Scholarship/Creative Work: With almost 30 years in the industry, Professor Ward continues to be an active scene designer and scenic artist, working with professional companies in the region including Opera Roanoke, Mill Mountain Theatre, Virginia Children’s Theatre, and the Roanoke Ballet Theatre. Beyond the valley, he has recently had designs on stage in Mississippi and has consulted for colleagues in West Virginia, Wisconsin, Texas, and New York. His work has been featured in several museum installations from the Taubman Museum of Art and the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke to the Newman Library at Virginia Tech.

For more information about Jimmy Ward, please open the tabs below. If you would like a digital copy of his complete CV, please contact him at jward38@radford.edu.