Communication Arts

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One constant in the growth of Trinity's communication arts department over the past two decades has been Dr. Annalee Ward. Though she joined the faculty in 1985, she began serving as a full-time professor in January 2000. Her arrival and stay are testaments to God's grace and provision.

"There was a speech class worth two credits that was offered once every three years," she recalls about the start of her career at the College. "I taught that class, and then my students helped draft a petition saying that the class should be worth three credits. The petition was granted. Then I proposed a minor to the curriculum committee; it was approved. After developing curriculum for a communication arts major, we hired a full-time professor for the program.

"The College appointed me chair of the department and allowed me to work on a half-time basis. Trinity has been very good to me. They allowed me to spend time with my children while developing the communication arts department."

After growing up in Denver, Ward attended Calvin College, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in speech and theater in 1980. She went back to her home state to study rhetoric and media studies at Colorado State University, receiving her master's degree in 1982. After a respite from student life, during which she had her two children, she received her doctorate in communication studies from Virginia's Regent University in 1997.

One of her aspirations is for Trinity to establish a greater focus on theater. Ward holds a deep interest in theater production, and she anticipates exciting times for the department when construction of the Art and Communication Center is completed.

"Having a dedicated space for art and theater will eliminate the challenge of storing set designs, costumes, and equipment. It will also help us become more visible as the center for the arts within the broader Trinity community. The momentum is evident in student interest, faculty hires, and curriculum growth, and the new building can only improve our program."

Ward enjoys research that examines the correlation among media, ethics, and rhetoric. That delight led her to write a book, Mouse Morality: A Rhetoric of Disney Animated Film, which was released in 2002.

For more than 20 years, Ward has been an active member of the Religious Communication Association, which gives scholars interested in communication and religion an outlet for support, encouragement, and ideas. She has held offices as the RCA's president and vice president. She is also a member of the National Communication Association and the Communication Ethics Commission.

Ward's husband, Mark, is a full-time professor of economics and business at Trinity. They live in Palos Heights and attend Palos Heights Christian Reformed Church.