Dr. Peggy 
Ward Smith holds a bachelor, master’s, and doctoral degree in nursing, as well as a master’s of counseling psychology. She currently serves as the Faculty Fellow for the School of Graduate Studies, the Director of UMKC’s Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching (FaCET), and she is an associate professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies.
“I serve as the faculty mentor to the Graduate Student Council. This organization provides social and scholarly events that allow graduate students to meet each other. These events support academic, research, and social activities,” she said. “As a faculty member, I teach in our doctoral (PhD) program and serve as the chairperson for doctoral students.”
Prior to her academic career, Peggy was a neuroscience specialist, focused on providing care and treatment to adults diagnosed with brain tumors.
“While that may seem depressing, these individuals and their family members really taught me what was important in life (it is not money) and to not put things off (call your Mom), for the future is uncertain,” she said. “It was a privilege to be included in their care.”
Peggy said she has always wanted to be a nurse.
“I received a Nurse Nancy book (complete with band aids) when I was five and that clinched it,” she said. “I think I have achieved my dream job.”
In her new position in SGS, Peggy says she has enjoyed meeting doctoral students from other disciplines.
“I am amazed at the passion these students have for their discipline, and the potential for making a difference,” she said. “I was unaware of the discipline specific differences, which include job opportunities and deciding between an academic or clinical career after graduation.”
Peggy said her favorite aspect of the job is the student contact outside the classroom.
“Not having to focus on course content allows me to get to know students as people. I enjoy this,” she said. “I do hope that they enjoy getting to know a faculty person as someone besides the person who requires papers and grades everything.”
Peggy thinks UMKC is a good choice for graduate studies because of the student body diversity, the variety of courses available, the exposure to multiple disciplines, and the opportunity to develop collaborative relationships.
“I admire the persistence of graduate students in pursuing additional education and I would like to do what I can to support them,” she said.
If she weren’t working at UMKC, Peggy would be running a health clinic at a pilgrimage site.
“Having health care providers available would make it possible for health challenged individuals to visit a religious site,” she said. “While I am open to any geographical location, I would like to do this in Lourdes, France.”