Darren Ward photo

Darren Ward

Interim Director of Admissions and Associate Director for Transfer & Articulation

Office 212C Sorensen Hall

Hi, I'm Darren, the Associate Director of Admissions for Transfer & Articulation. My time at UW-Stout began as a first-year advisor in the Advisement Center in 2017.  I helped students navigate their transition to college, develop academic skills, and plan for future semesters at UW-Stout. I transitioned to Admissions in January 2023 and really enjoy working with students as they pursue their dream of earning a Baccalaureate degree.

Advice for a new student:
Get involved in student organizations early in your college career. This involvement can help you find out what you are passionate about and will help you make friends on campus.

College Major/Minor:
I earned Bachelor of Science degrees in both Economics and Business Administration (double major) from UW-River Falls in 2015 and a Master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration from UW-La Crosse in 2017.

Why did you choose your major?
As an undergraduate I was highly involved in student organizations, especially a service organization called Destination. It was through leadership roles in the Destination program that I learned that I loved working with college students and enriching their college experience. Because of this, early in my undergraduate career, I knew I wanted to pursue a master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration. My credits as I explored different majors and through transfer made Economics and Business Administration the best fit for an undergraduate college major.

What do you love most about UW-Stout?
I love the welcoming atmosphere that UW-Stout provides. Your professors, student support staff…everyone working at Stout is here to make the college experience enjoyable and fulfilling for students.

My favorite thing to do in Menomonie is…
Besides attending UW-Stout athletic events I am a huge foodie. I love checking out the various restaurants in town and one of my favorites is right across from campus – Log Jam!

A random fact about me...
Within the Destination program during my undergraduate college experience I was trip leader for several service trips. Two of those trips gave me the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic and teach English. Other experiences included travelling twice to Moab, UT and traveling to New Orleans, LA to assist with hurricane relief.

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