When Ethan Ward, ’26, enrolled at Northern Arizona University, he already had law school in his sights—but philosophy gave him a new way to think about justice.
Ward is majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Law, an interdisciplinary program that spans philosophy, political institutions, ethics, logic, and history. The degree is designed so that students not only grasp abstract theory but also evaluate how ideas translate into public policy, legal systems, and governance.
Ward’s early interest in philosophy was influenced by his grandfather—born in Israel and a veteran of the Six-Day War—who instilled in him a passion for thinking deeply about human conflict and moral foundations.
“The war spurred his interest in philosophy and the human condition. Law and politics greatly influence what happens on the ground,” Ward said.
Because Ward views law through a philosophical lens, he is drawn to big questions: How should societies respond to wrongdoing? Are laws grounded in moral principles or mere power? He contrasts punitive approaches—where punishment is used to deter or penalize—with rehabilitative models that focus on reform, restoration, and reintegration. In his view, the law is more just when it’s informed by ethics.
His academic curiosity deepened under mentorship in the College of Arts and Letters (CAL): “CAL has been awesome. I’ve enjoyed all my classes,” he said. He credits Assistant Professor of Philosophy Katie Tullmann and Associate Professor of Philosophy Luke Maring for pushing him intellectually and helping him navigate the law school process.
He attributes much of his success on standardized tests to Tullmann’s logic courses—Introduction to Logic and Symbolic Logic—which he says sharpened his analytical skills.
Maring’s Philosophy of Forgiveness class stands out as one of his most formative experiences: “He was the most engaging professor I’ve ever had. He approached class as if students were equals. It was more of a discussion. He was willing to hear us and hear our thoughts. That has been my favorite class at NAU,” he said.
Scoring 174 on the LSAT, Ward ranked among the top 1% of test-takers, a range reached as a median only at Harvard and Yale.
Ward serves as logistics officer for the NAU Mock Trial Club, which continues to grow in size and recognition. Even small acts of philanthropy have helped sustain the team—last year, four donors contributed $350 through NAU Giving Day to support travel and competition expenses for students like Ward.
Over eight years in mock trial—from high school through college—he has helped elevate NAU’s club into the top 15 percent nationally. The team also earned the Spirit of the American Mock Trial Association award, given by peers to the program best embodying justice, fairness, and civility. Ward sees it as proof that NAU can compete nationally without losing its values.
He is also president of Phi Alpha Delta, NAU’s pre-law organization. “It’s about building a community of people on campus who want to be lawyers. We’ve helped students prepare for law school applications, we’ve met with judges, and I organized our first-ever tour of ASU Law,” he said.
When he’s not debating or preparing cases, he co-founded NAU’s Pickleball Club, competing in regional tournaments from San Diego to Las Vegas. “I’m really into pickleball—like, competitive pickleball,” he said with a grin.
As a recipient of multiple NAU awards—including the Faculty Senate, Earl C. Slipher Memorial, and Kenneth Coor Memorial Honors scholarships—Ward says this support has made his education financially attainable.
I’m going to graduate with no debt, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that without scholarships
Ethan Ward Student, NAU College of Arts and Letters
“Even a little bit can go a long way—covering extra expenses like meals or books.”
Ward is now applying for a Fulbright Scholarship to study security and diplomacy at Tel Aviv University before enrolling in law school at a top program. “My dream school is Harvard,” he said. “But I’m also really interested in Georgetown—they have great programs in both constitutional and international law.”
As he steps toward that next stage, Ward hopes that his experiences at NAU and the philosophical habits he’s cultivated—critical reflection, moral imagination, intellectual humility—will guide him not just in law school, but in the kind of justice he hopes to help bring about.
Elevate scholarship support
Your investment in scholarships will help break down barriers. A gift of $50,000 supports one student for an academic year; $500,000 supports ten. Your generosity opens doors and gives students like Ethan the freedom to focus on learning.
