Boston University

05/04/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/05/2026 01:12

Questrom’s Sally E. Ward Has Been Guiding Students for Decades

Questrom's Sally E. Ward Has Been Guiding Students for Decades

Renowned for her dedication, kindness, and institutional knowledge, she says that the key to advising students is building relationships

"The best part of my job is having someone tell me they spoke to a student I used to work with and they had great things to say about their relationship with me," says Ward (CAS'77, Wheelock'94), assistant director of academic advising at Questrom School of Business.

Staff

Questrom's Sally E. Ward Has Been Guiding Students for Decades

Renowned for her dedication, kindness, and institutional knowledge, she says that the key to advising students is building relationships

May 4, 2026
Twitter Facebook

Ask anyone at Boston University's Questrom School of Business to describe Sally E. Ward, and this is what you hear: "thoughtful," "supportive," "dedicated," someone who "leads with her heart and is always thinking of others."

For more than a quarter of a century, Ward (CAS'77, Wheelock'94), assistant director of academic advising, has been helping Questrom undergraduates navigate which courses to take, putting them in touch with tutors and other resources when they're experiencing difficulty in a course, and counseling them on how to approach professors if they're too shy to attend office hours. She also helps identify students eligible for scholarships and advises Questrom's student-athletes-a special interest for Ward, given her previous role as coordinator of education services for BU Athletics.

But all that only scratches the surface of Ward's real work: building relationships with students. And to do that, she says, she first has to assure them that when they enter her office, they're in a judgment-free zone.

"If you don't judge people, I think that gives them a comfort level. Anyone can say, 'I'm not judging you,' but you really have to mean it," Ward says. "I'm not here to chastise you, I'm not here to punish you. I'm here to help you figure out what you need to do to get where you want to go."

And current and former students say that Ward's institutional knowledge and deep empathy have helped them chart their own paths as successful students and, later, alumni.

Entrepreneur Daniella Pierson (CGS'15, Questrom'17) was struggling academically when she first met Ward.

"She became an ally to me and a true mentor when I was at my lowest point in college," Pierson recalls. At the time, Pierson had just launched her own business, The Newsette, a newsletter for women that today goes out to hundreds of thousands of subscribers daily. Struggling with balancing her academics and entrepreneurial pursuits, Pierson had gone to Ward's office to see if she could switch her Core Curriculum from morning to afternoon, so she could write her newsletter in the morning.

"Sally questioned me about my business and said she'd get back to me. I thought there was no chance, but to my surprise I was able to switch-and she started reading The Newsette every morning and became my biggest advocate," Pierson says. "She is that rare kind of human who truly wants students to do well and helps them become a bigger and brighter version of themselves by giving them confidence and support when they most need it.

"Without Sally's support and belief in me-and Newsette-I would not have crossed the stage to graduate."

Student Luca Glickman (Questrom'28), who's currently finishing up a semester studying in Sydney, Australia, credits Ward with not just guiding his academic journey-advising him when he had questions about choosing a concentration, pursuing study abroad, and exploring campus jobs-but also providing trusted life advice.

"Sally understands that being a student is one of many aspects of being in college; some of her sagest advice has been about how to manage friendships, clubs, and sports, and that all of that is integral to being a successful student," says Glickman. "One of the most important pieces of advice she's shared with me is not to be afraid to stray from the path. Just because people put pressure on you to set up your career in a certain way or live your life a certain way-don't do it if you don't want to!"

Charting a Path of Her Own

Ward knows intimately what it's like to be a student at BU. She is a double Terrier, having majored in history as an undergrad before later getting a degree in higher ed administration from BU's Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. And her godfather and father graduated from the University. From the moment she arrived on campus, Ward felt at home.

Ward chats with Connor Sachleben (ENG'28), and Sharon Soeprapto (Questrom'28).student employees at Questrom's Undergraduate Development Center. Photo by Cydney Scott

"I loved the size of it, I loved the faculty I had in the history department, I loved the friends I made," she says. As an undergrad, she had a job as a student employee in BU Financial Assistance. When she was graduating, her supervisor offered her a full-time job and Ward said yes. She wound up staying eight years, eventually working her way up to senior assistant director of internal affairs, before leaving to become director of student financial services at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Working as a financial aid director, Ward found she missed interacting with students face-to-face, so when a chance to return to BU as coordinator of education services in BU Athletics opened up, she jumped at the opportunity.

She hired tutors to work with the student-athletes, ran study halls, worked with the schools and colleges to make sure the varsity players were getting the support they needed, even traveled with teams to make sure they stayed on top of their studies. And when the student-athletes didn't show up for class or fell behind in their schoolwork, Ward was there to step in.

"These students work harder than anyone on campus," Ward says, admiringly. "They basically have a full-time job, and on top of that have to train, travel, play, and, if injured, receive treatment and get healthy, all while going to school."

Decades later, she still keeps in touch with many of the student-athletes she advised. Marc Fauci (COM'94,'96) is one of them.

"Sally has a good feel for people, so she could identify when any of us were struggling," Fauci says. "She gave you the confidence that you belonged at BU, that you could thrive."

Ward, who tries to catch as many athletic events as her schedule permits, continues to draw on her experience working in BU Athletics to help Questrom's student-athletes.

When Olivia Hammer (Questrom'27), a midfielder on BU's field hockey team, decided to transfer into Questrom from Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, one of her academic advisors in Athletics recommended she seek out Ward.

"Sally was my savior," says Hammer. In their first conversation, she says, Ward helped her figure out how to take a calculus class over the summer at a school close to home and assured her that one class she'd already taken fulfilled a Questrom prerequisite.

"She knows how complex our lives can be, managing athletics and academics," Hammer says, noting that when the two talk now, Ward always asks her about the team. Hammer says she recently met with Ward to talk about applying to graduate school at Questrom while she pursues a fifth year of eligibility as an athlete.

"I want to be one of those alums who is still in touch with Sally years after graduation," Hammer says.

The Importance of Staying Relevant and Giving Back

Ward credits both the students she advises and her colleagues at Questrom with keeping her young and staying relevant.

"I work in a generationally diverse office, and that has kept me connected to social media, to pop culture, to what's going on," Ward says. "It's fun to work with young advisors who come to you and seek some mentorship and advice. And when I see my younger colleagues interact with students, I sometimes pick up things that will give me greater skill in what I do."

Ward's colleagues say they've learned from watching her at work.

Ward (right) poses with Questrom advising and academic success colleagues Kelly Sachleben (from left), Trish Harper, Lindsey Itzkowitz Aronson (Wheelock'11), and Deanna Baker (CAS'08, Wheelock'22). Photo courtesy of Ward

"Being around someone who is always willing to help, teach, learn, and share an idea is a privilege," says Danielle Desjardins, senior director of academic advising and student services at Questrom.

In recognition of her contributions to the school, Ward in 2023 was named the inaugural recipient of Questrom's Legacy of Excellence Dean's Award, the highest honor bestowed on a Questrom staff member.

Susan Fournier, Allen Questrom Professor and dean of Questrom, says that Ward was honored for the simple reason that, through her daily interactions and decisions, she embodies "Questrom's core value of putting students first."

Now, as the semester draws to a close, and Ward prepares to say goodbye to another class of students, she looks forward to one of her favorite times of the year-Commencement season-and the chance to celebrate the accomplishments of her advisees.

"I love Questrom's convocation each year, when students are just so excited to finish and have so much to look forward to," Ward says. "They're hugging you and thanking you, and then you go to the reception afterwards and they introduce you to their families. It's just a great day. And then, during Commencement, when I'm sitting up on the platform and they call out Questrom during the conferral of degrees and the noise goes up, it's just amazing."

Explore Related Topics:

  • Share this story

Share

Questrom's Sally E. Ward Has Been Guiding Students for Decades

Copy URL: Copy

Latest from BU Today

Boston University published this content on May 04, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 05, 2026 at 07:12 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]