Deana Ward was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA at Farmingdale State College in November 2021. She began at the school in September 2003 as its Sports Information Director/Senior Women’s Administrator, and served as the SID for 15 years. In the role, Ward was directly responsible for the reporting of all statistics, press releases, brochures, media guides and nominations for awards for the Rams’ 18 intercollegiate sports. She assisted in the event management of all home contests, as well as special events. Ward established our inaugural athletics website (www.farmingdalesports.com) through PrestoSports in 2004, and was involved with multiple redesigns of the site over the years. She also developed and organized an extensive archive for all of our athletics teams, including season results, awards, photographs and team and individual sport records. During Ward's tenure as the SID, Farmingdale State hosted two baseball NCAA Regionals (2009 and 2011) and countless Skyline Conference and ECAC and championship games.
Ward, who served as an assistant coach during the Rams' women's lacrosse program during its inaugural seasons of competition (2005-08), was named the Assistant AD in 2008, aiding the department with scheduling and game contracts, while also managing the sports information department and supervising student game-day staff and the assistant SID. She worked with Skye Design to create a brand identity and updated design of our athletics logos. The redesign solidified the athletics brand, including the look of our team apparel and signage around the Nold Hall Athletic Complex, making it one of the premier athletic facilities on Long Island. Ward has assisted with each renovation of the athletic complex, as well as the lacrosse/soccer/track, tennis, baseball and softball complexes.
The Wilmington, Massachusetts native was promoted to Associate Athletic Director in October 2018, switching gears from sports information to compliance. Ward directs compliance duties of all Skyline and NCAA rules and regulations for Farmingdale State's 18 teams and more than 300 student-athletes each year.
Around campus, Ward has served on multiple search committees, and is currently the Chair of the Functional Area II Assessment Committee and a member of the Carnegie Community Engagement Committee. For her efforts in and around the FSC campus, she was selected as a 2025 Phenomenal Womyn honoree.
Ward attended Endicott (Mass.) College, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Sport Management in 2001. She was a member of the Gulls' field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams for four seasons apiece. Ward then earned a Master's Degree in Athletic Administration from Springfield College in 2003. While attending Springfield, she served as assistant coach for two years at nearby Elms College (Chicopee, Mass.) for its field hockey and women's lacrosse programs.
Ward resides in West Islip, N.Y., and has two daughters, Dylan and Rylee – who you can see at most games cheering on the Rams!
