Student Body Votes Ward ‘Advisor of the Year’ at Inaugural COLAC Awards
The campus radio station housed in Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC) has become a model for collegiate and community broadcasting excellence nationwide. And the station’s director, Terrence Ward, has played an instrumental role in “The Flava Station’s” continued wave of success.
Ward says his central focus is “aiding in students’ professional development as media specialists.” It is that focus that has helped lead WANM-FM 90.5 into being named the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s Best College/University Station (serving under 10,000 students) for 2024–25.
As a director, Ward also serves as an advisor to the student staff at the radio station and plays a crucial role in mentoring them to be at the forefront of innovation and uphold the highest industry standards. That is why IBS also recognized WANM for having the best on-air personality, best spot news, best station contest, and best sports update for the 2024-25 academic year.
While keeping FAMU’s campus radio on beat, he also simultaneously serves as the advisor to the FAMU Chapter of the NAACP, the largest collegiate chapter in the state of Florida, which is focused on civil rights activism, community service, and the betterment of FAMU.
His heart for service to students and the greater campus community has not gone unnoticed.
As the spring 2025 semester came to a close, Ward received the exciting news that he was named Florida A&M’s “Advisor of the Year” by the student body during the inaugural College of Love and Charity (COLAC) Awards in late April. This year’s theme was the “Essence of Excellence,” paying homage to outstanding student leaders, organizations, teams, faculty, staff, colleges, schools, and departments that exemplify leadership, service, and dedication to the FAMU community.
According to the awards’ hosts, the Campus Activities Board and Efferson Student Union & Activities, Ward’s recognition demonstrates that he has gone “above and beyond to enrich campus life, inspire change, and uphold the spirit of excellence.”
“The fact that the recognition comes from the students means a great deal,” Ward said. “It’s amazing to know the students recognize the work put into ensuring their experience with the radio station and NAACP is impactful.”
Ward also plays an important role in encouraging and supporting incoming FAMU students. He is an SJGC recruiter and travels regularly to events around Florida and South Georgia to encourage high schoolers and transfer students to take advantage of the school’s offerings.
He recently helped make FAMU SJGC history by serving as one of three instructors for the first-ever Digital Media Day held on campus in April 2024, offering training and certification to more than 60 students.
Serving as WANM’s director since 2018 and, prior to that, operations manager since 2013, Ward, a 2008 broadcast journalism graduate, returned to FAMU SJGC to serve his alma mater after working as a longtime senior technical director at Tallahassee’s WTXL ABC 27.
His daily impact in SJGC includes overseeing the training of students in broadcasting, audio production, and digital media. Throughout each semester you will find him working to ensure the station and staff operate in compliance with FCC regulations for noncommercial radio, researching and establishing best practices to grow the station’s social media presence, and training students on converting broadcast segments into digital and multimedia content, particularly using audio visualizers. Ward also conducts workshops on on-air performance and interview skills to position all SJGC students to be at the forefront of the industry.
“Mr. Ward has pushed me to the next level, allowing me to grow as not only a student but as a leader in this world and industry,” said mentee and spring 2025 public relations graduate Jayla Royal. “He allowed me space to have full creative control while accepting constructive feedback that pushed my work to the next level. He’s impacted me by being that push I needed to get out of my comfort zone with my work, and he continues to push me even after graduation.”
In August 2024, under his guidance, WANM and its student team members were named double finalists by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sunshine State Awards in the collegiate podcasting category and as a winner in the news photo category. This, along with many other achievements, exemplifies how his mentorship has strengthened the skillset of SJGC students.
Ward is hands-on with SJGC students, often demonstrating in real time how to use the latest equipment, tools, and technology to advance their storytelling.
“Director Ward has played a vital role in motivating our students to become exceptional scholars, emerging professionals, and engaged community leaders,” said Mira Lowe, SJGC dean. “We are extremely proud of the impact he continues to make and of the well-deserved recognition he has received as ‘Advisor of the Year’ from the very students he serves with such dedication.”
Beyond the corridors of the SJGC building, Ward demonstrates a remarkable passion and commitment to preparing students to be community advocates. He balances his time in the radio station and SJGC training labs with spending time helping guide students across academic disciplines toward being leaders in the social justice movement under the umbrella of the NAACP.
He has helped prepare student chapter members to drive donations to support families in need and close the gap on health disparities, volunteer for street cleanups around the community, promote voter registration, host community dialogues and town halls on issues facing the Black community, and advocate before legislators to help secure resources for the university and beyond.
Wards’ efforts across FAMU’s student training programs and organizations indeed personify FAMU’s legacy of love and charity and SJGC’s storied history of not only developing student voices but also teaching them to represent the voices of others.
