School AEM welcomes Fulbright Scholar Professor Stefan Ward

School AEM welcomes Fulbright Scholar Professor Stefan Ward

The School of Arts Education & Movement is delighted to welcome incoming US Fulbright Scholar, Professor Stefan Ward, from Central Washington University this semester. Dr Ward is the Program Director for the Physical Education School Health Program at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington where he focuses on research areas that include positive youth development, international Service-learning, and physical education teacher education. Since 2010, he has created and researched programmes that connect university teacher candidates with international organisations through reciprocal service learning in both Guam and Ireland. As a US Fulbright Scholar to Ireland, Dr Ward will work to create a sustainable partnership between Dublin City University, Project Fun Direction, and Central Washington University. Project Fun Direction is a Dublin nonprofit dedicated to increasing physical literacy opportunities for youth, particularly underserved younger girls. In addition, he will work to provide professional development for staff and volunteers of Project Fun direction. Working closely with School AEM colleague, Dr Maura Coulter, Associate Dean for Research at the DCU Institute of Education, Dr Ward will contribute teaching and research insights to the primary physical education programme as part of the BEd programme in the Institute of Education. New research will also be conducted with physical education and sport pedagogy faculty from DCU. Dr Ward will also present several lectures on his work to date on international service-learning opportunities.

Professor Stefan Ward is the first incoming Fulbright Scholar to the School of Arts Education and Movement which is also home to two Fulbright alumni. In 2020, Assistant Professor Dr Francis Ward served as a Fulbright Scholar to the University of Washington while Assistant Professor Dr Marie Louise Bowe was also a Fulbright Student at Teachers College Columbia University, New York, 2010-2014.