DR. DWEDOR MORAIS FORD '73
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
26TH ANNUAL CONVENTION - ATLANTA 2020
Dr. Dwedor Morais Ford is an educator, an author, a writer, a community organizer, and an entrepreneur.
As a little girl, Dwedor dreamed of becoming a dentist, but her trajectory changed during her second year of college when she realized her passion for language and communication. This passion led her to earn several degrees in education and language arts: A Bachelor’s in Education from Cuttington University, a Master’s in English Education from the University of Central Arkansas, an Educational Specialist in Educational Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Doctorate in Rhetoric and Technical Communication from New Mexico State University.
She has been employed as faculty and administrator at several institutions of higher learning including the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Clayton State University, Winston-Salem State University, Central State University, Davidson County Community College, and Concordia University-Portland. Dwedor has a strong commitment to teaching writing with computers, both face-to-face and online, to enhance learning and to offer students the opportunity to build technology competencies.
As an author and writing expert, Dwedor has published several books including Dr. Francis W. M. Morais: His Fight for Humanity (co-authored with her husband); L is for Liberia: An Alphabet Book; and Computers and Writing in English Studies: Attitudes and Issues Concerning Writing Teachers and Writing Program Administrators. Dwedor’s second children’s book, PeekSqueak: The Lost Duckling is in press as she rushes to complete Dreams Remembered (a working title). Dwedor’s books are available at https://winhtellingstories.com/
Over the years, Dwedor has edited several textbooks for companies including Pearson, Bedford-St. Martin’s, Thomson Wadsworth, and Prentice Hall. Her most recent edited work, Fierce and Fabulous by Glynis W. Bell, encourages and inspires young ladies to develop positive self-image in all aspects of their lives. Dwedor is now working with several soon-to-be authors whose works cover a variety of genres.
As a 1973 graduate of St. Teresa’s Convent, Dwedor is committed to empowering women and girls across the globe. She serves as President of International Association of Women, Winston-Salem (North Carolina) Chapter. She is a member of Links, Inc; founder of the NC HBCU Writing Center Consortium; founder of America Serves of Winston-Salem, NC; and a literacy tutor at the YMCA of Northwest NC. Having been an Episcopalian all her life, she is a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, where she is a member of the choir and the director of Vacation Bible School.
Dwedor is also a seamstress. Despite her busy writing schedule, she still finds time to do alterations and small sewing projects for family and friends. She hopes to someday invest some time into teaching today’s tech-savvy youth “how to thread a needle.”
Dwedor is married to Dr. Charles Wesley Ford, Jr., a 1972 graduate of St. Patrick’s High School. They have four adult children: Dr. Dwedor (Dee) Weslyne, Chanita Weslee Neal, Charlise Weslea, and Charles Wesley III; they also have four precious grandchildren.