Conor Ward is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin and Emeritus Professor of Social Science, University College Dublin.
He was the first Coordinator of the 1987-2004 Academic Support for Bethlehem University Programme. He took leave of absence from UCD for four months to launch the programme in Bethlehem. He was followed in that role by Colette Dowling and Maurice Harmon, also on leave of absence from UCD.
All three having retired from UCD by 1991, at Bethlehem University’s request they continued to be involved as volunteers in a series of academic initiatives in Bethlehem University. They each resided in Bethlehem for about four months each year.
The final element in that programme was a Strategic Development Plan in 1999. Conor Ward and Colette Dowling continued to work with Bethlehem University on various project until very recently. When Bethlehem University Academic Staff set out on a Quality Assurance and Quality Enhancement Programme carried out with assistance from UCD Academic Staff Conor Ward again had a role in the preparations.
He acts as Hon. Treasurer of the Friends of Bethlehem in Ireland.