Ms. Ward graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a Journalism degree, then proceeded to attend law school at the John Marshall Law School of Chicago, receiving her J.D. and admission to the Illinois Bar. In law school, Ms. Ward participated in a Moot Court Interscholastic Team Competition, was Vice President of the Student Bar Association, a Moot Court Council Member and Student Ambassador. Ms. Ward was a Young Alumni Council member at The John Marshall Law School and was the Co-Chair of the Summer 2008 Social Event. Ms. Ward also co-founded the Ward Toy Scholars, which raised money for inner-city school reading incentives.