Dr. Consuela Ward, Ph.D. in curriculum studies and director of the Multicultural Student Center (MSC) will be leaving Georgia Southern University on Feb. 17 to pursue a career at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Ward has been at GSU for seven-and-a-half years, ever since coming during Hurricane Charlie in August 2004. Ward will be a Human Resources Business Partner for Culture and Inclusion at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Ward graduated from GSU with her doctorate in May 2011.

“The amount of professional and educational clothe that I have been afforded during my time here has been a phenomenal experience,” Ward said. “The one thing about being a diversity educator is helping people to see life from different lenses.”

One of Ward’s proudest accomplishments at GSU has been the development of multicultural diversity calendars and the faculty incorporating it into their academic curriculums.

“Students started coming to our programs, not just because they thought they were great programs, but the faculty found academic value in them and so it became a part of the campus culture,” Ward said. “I actually partner with faculty at times to actually execute some of these programs.”

The diversity calendar celebrates and informs faculty and students about different groups throughout the year.

“We no longer celebrate different diversity months or weeks. You’ll see a celebration or acknowledgement of challenges and accomplishments of many different groups throughout the year. You’ll see our programs sprinkled out throughout the academic year for a lot of groups,” Ward said.

Christopher Pugh, assistant director of MSC and in charge of Minority Advisement Program will resume Ward’s place as interim director. Pugh first met Ward when he volunteered for MSC in 2006 while performing in the play, “Montage of Blackness.”

“I’ve never had a professional mentor before, so she was my first professional mentor,” Pugh said. “She taught me how to make my work count for something — to not only work hard, but to work smart.”

“I teared up a couple of times, I’m not afraid to say that,” Pugh said. “She meant so much to so many people. She deserves a lot. We knew this day was coming, but that does not make it easy to deal with. We’re not looking forward to saying bye to her at all. Dr. Ward means more to people than they realize. She is the world to a lot of students around here.”

Ward has pushed the standard for this university when it comes to programming, Pugh said.

“She has really made everyone really not only believe what she believes in, as far as work ethic and having a purpose in your work, but she believes in them strongly and deeply,” Pugh said.

This will be a great loss for GSU, President Brooks Keel said.

“Dr. Ward cared deeply for our students and her student centered passion will be missed. However, we certainly appreciate that this is an excellent career opportunity for her and we wish her the very best,” Keel said.

Seeing her leave is bittersweet, William Hill, a senior general studies major, said.

“She plays a big role here at GSU. You want to see her succeed, but don’t want to see her go at the same time,” Hill said.

“I’ll miss her,” Kashaunnah Sledge, a senior health education and promotion major, said. “I enjoyed having her insight and experience planning the Women’s Empowerment Conference.”

“She has really left a legacy. I think the school will know when she leaves. You will definitely feel her absence,” Pugh said.

A going-away reception will be held for Ward today from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Room 2080 in the Russell Union. It is open to everyone.