The Passing of SMC's Skye Ward

I am deeply saddened to share with you the news about the passing of our colleague Dawna (Skye) Ward. Skye joined the Saint Mary’s community in 2014 and served as an administrative assistant in the School of Liberal Arts, supporting both the Kinesiology and Ethnic Studies departments.

I did not have an opportunity to meet Skye, but I understand that her contributions to our community reached far beyond her work supporting our academic programs. She was embedded into the fabric of our campus community and, in many ways, the conscience of our institution. She will be dearly missed.

A voice for the underrepresented

Skye was well-known around our campus as an advocate for peace, justice, and joy. She enjoyed photography and documentary videos, and during her 11 years at SMC frequently highlighted diverse and underrepresented voices by sharing video interviews, photographs, and personal reflections. She celebrated activities including kite flying on the chapel lawn during lunch, experiential leadership workshops with horses, and faculty sabbatical projects. She was a respected champion for the underprivileged, and she did not hesitate to speak out against injustice.

An example of her many contributions to our campus community is a collection of racial justice resources that now reside within our library’s digital resource collection. Skye curated and shared these resources—which are helpfully organized by departments and topics— as a way to help educate the SMC community on racial justice and related matters. In recognition of this and other work, Skye received the 2017 Staff Distinction Award for Inclusive Excellence & Building SMC Community.

In addition to her Saint Mary’s work, Skye studied and addressed global issues, including the intersections of race, gender, and economic exploitation. A world traveler, she visited more than 30 countries and five continents. She especially loved Paris and spent much of her off-time there immersed in French culture. 

Other important contributions

Outside of Saint Mary’s, she offered a transformational workshop, “Conjuring Wellness & Renewal: A Transnational Feminist Approach to Global Travel.” There, she framed overseas travel as a means for transformational healing, self-discovery, and the development of transnational feminist connections and practices. She also published a book, “Skyeview: A Sistah’s View of the World, Paris Chapter–A Guidebook and Journal.”

Taking her personal creativity a step further, Skye contributed to the “Interdisciplinary Voice” exhibit at Saint Mary’s Museum of Art in 2022, a photograph that served as a response to a piece from the museum’s permanent collection. Skye also frequently played an important role in the College’s 44 Days of Black History events.

Skye loved live music and was taking lessons to hone her skills as a guitarist. She was very close to her siblings in the Los Angeles area and had many close friends in the Bay Area.  

A compassionate and creative spirit, Skye was beloved by colleagues for her passion, advocacy, and artistry. She embodied all that is good about SMC, and she will not be forgotten. Please keep her family and friends in your hearts as they grieve the loss of this beloved individual. May her memory be an eternal blessing.

Funeral and memorial arrangements will be announced by the School of Liberal Arts when they become available. 

Sincerely,

Roger J. Thompson, EdD
President