Short Version
Jennifer M. Ward is a writer, editor, and teacher from Brooklyn, New York. She is working on her debut novel and her MFA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. While in the MFA program, she worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant supporting college students in English Composition II. She writes contemporary fiction and nonfiction stories. In 2022, her essay, “The Courage to Rekindle a Dream,” was published in The Penmen Review. Jennifer graduated from SUNY, Empire State University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies and a Master of Arts in Teaching. She has taught English classes at a Brooklyn public school for nearly a decade.
Long Version
Jennifer M. Ward was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She spent her younger years in the local library reading Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, and books by horror author R.L. Stine. During her senior year of high school, a beloved English teacher gave her a hardcover copy of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood (which she still has to this day).
In the early to mid-2000s, Jennifer worked as a waitress while attending college in New York City. She developed a stronger interest in becoming a writer after taking a creative writing class. In 2004, Jennifer began working in healthcare administration and spent most of her career in Midtown. While working in Manhattan, she graduated from SUNY, Empire State University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies.
In the mid-2010s, Jennifer began her career in education and found a position teaching a mile from her childhood home. In 2017, she earned a Master of Arts in English Education. Her experience as an educator includes curriculum writing, remote, blended, and face-to-face instruction. In 2022, she became an AVID educator working to prepare students for college and beyond. Jennifer currently teaches English and Dramatic Arts. Some of her favorite stories to teach are “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, “The Scholarship Jacket” by Martha Salinas, and “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. Some of her favorite plays to teach are Romeo & Juliet, The Miracle Worker, and Twelve Angry Men.
Jennifer is writing her debut novel. She is expecting to complete her MFA in Creative Writing in 2023. In 2022, her essay, “The Courage to Rekindle a Dream,” was published in The Penmen Review. It tells about her experience finding the direction, courage, and confidence to pursue her dreams of becoming a writer and educator. In 2023, her blog post, “Five Books Every Writer Should Own,” was published as well. She writes contemporary fiction that tends to be more character-driven and focused on the intricacies of relationships.
Stay Connected
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. If something I’ve written resonates with you, send me an email. I would love to hear from you!