After a 20-year hiatus from academia, Lisa Ariellah Ward has earned the merited title of doctor of public health from Georgia Southern University (GSU).
“After successfully raising children, all of whom are now accomplished professionals, I made the life-changing decision to return to school,” said Ward.
Now a mother of four and a grandmother of seven, Ward is graduating this year with a degree in public health leadership, health policy and community health.
“The enormous changes in academia, technology and the entire learning environment posed significant challenges for me with each semester’s coursework. I had to start anew not just with the coursework but with everything,” she said.
While attending GSU, she also served part time as a consultant for the University of Florida from her home in Kingsland, Georgia.
Ward obtained several other degrees before attending GSU, including:
- A bachelor’s in biology and genetics from Cornell University
- A master of arts in health promotion from the University of Alabama
During her 20-year hiatus from academia, Ward has actively worked in public health and healthcare. Her foray into public health began in the late 90s' as a tobacco cessation coordinator for the public health department in Marietta.
Later in her career she undertook entrepreneurial efforts in corporate wellness where she served as a health coach for Fortune 500 groups.
“I like being on the ground floor for new program development,” she said. “That’s really my passion. I love planning, implementing and developing programs and then seeing them all come to life."
She also acted as a clinical consultant for the David Grant Medical Center, the Air Force’s largest medical center in California.
With a new degree under her belt, Ward would like to work with national organizations that train leaders who work with under-served populations.
“I do not want to waste anything that I’ve learned in my academic, professional and lived experiences,” she said. “Public health is a fascinating field that you can really delve into and make influential changes for the betterment of society."
“I feel like this is a new beginning and there’s more I want to do. I’ll never want to retire,” Ward said. “Instead of retiring, I’m refiring.”
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