Gregory Ward received his PhD in Linguistics in 1985 and has been a Professor in the fields of Linguistics, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and courtesy in Philosophy since 1986. He served as Chair of the Linguistics Department from 1999 to 2004. His scholarship includes an impressive array of 180 talks, 75 papers, and 4 books. His research interests primarily lie in discourse and pragmatics, with specific focus on pragmatic theory, information structure, and reference. Through his academic career, Ward has contributed significantly to the understanding of these complex areas, marking him as a respected figure in his field.