We’ve already launched hundreds of hours of lessons, thousands of multiple choice questions, and our patent-pending Mistake Bank feature with schools and charities around the country. While we work diligently to complete the platform’s other innovative features (Practice Test Proctoring, Mix’em Up, Friends Connection, Parent Portal, and more), we’re providing a special introductory offer.
Meet Our Founder
Winward Academy is an award-winning e-learning platform developed by Dr. Jennifer Winward, a renowned 20-year veteran of tutoring and a highly-regarded instructor at University of California, San Diego. For her academic excellence, passion for teaching, adolescent brain research, and commitment to education equity, Dr. Winward has been honored by the following:
"ACT and SAT preparation shouldn't be focused on beating one 4-hour test; it should be focused on equipping students with skills and content knowledge that develop a passion for life-long learning, build confidence, and contribute to continued academic, professional, and personal success."
Dr. Jennifer Winward
Meet Jennifer
Learn about Jennifer's teaching history
Explore Jennifer's mission to create Winward Academy
Connect with the words that inspire Jennifer's love of teaching
Meet Jennifer's favorite teacher from high school, Mr. Skip Lovelady
Discover what Jennifer thinks is the best part of teaching
See what Jennifer's students say about her
Education
Fall 2014
Micro-M.B.A, University of California, San Diego, Rady School of Management
2010-2014
Ph.D., University of California, San Diego
Dual Emphasis in Neuroscience and Development Neuropsychology
Dissertation: Heavy alcohol use, marijuana use, and concomitant use by
adolescents are associated with unique and shared cognitive decrements.
2008-2009
M.A., University of California, San Diego
Experimental Psychology
2002-2006
B.A., University of California, San Diego
Major in Human Development with Highest Distinction Honors
Summa Cum Laude
Phi Beta Kappa, National Academic Honor Society
Golden Key, International Academic Honor Society
2004
Study Abroad Student at University of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia
2004
Special Event Planning and Meeting Management Professional Certification
University of California, San Diego Extension
Teaching Experience
2014-present
Teaching Professor, University of California, San Diego
Behavioral Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Substance Abuse Seminar, Clinical Psychology Research Seminar, Behavioral Modification
1999-present
Private Tutor
2008-2014
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of California, San Diego
Statistics, Drugs and Behavior, Brain Damage and Mental Functions,
Developmental Psychology, Adolescence, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive
Psychology, Social Psychology, Eating Disorders
2013
Associate-In Professor, University of California, San Diego
Statistics
2003-2006
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, University of California, San Diego
Biology Department Head TA: Human Physiology, Human Nutrition
Cognitive Science Department TA: Intro to Cognitive Science
2004
Student Teacher, University of Sydney, Australia
Honors & Awards
2019
Top 35 Under 35 in the United States
2019
Top 40 Under 40 in San Diego
2018
Most Influential Education Leader
2018
Top 5 Female Entrepreneur in IT
2018
Top 50 Most Influential Business Leader
2014
Nominated by Psychology Department for Jean Fort Dissertation Prize at UCSD
2012
Anderson Research Award, University of California, San Diego
2010
American Psychological Association Division 50 Student Poster Award
2010
American Psychological Association Student Research Award
2010
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention
2009
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention
2006
Summa Cum Laude, University of California, San Diego
2006
Phi Beta Kappa, National Honors Society
2006
Highest Distinction Honors from the Human Development Program
2006
UCSD Panhellenic Association Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
2006
UCSD Panhellenic Association Recognition for Exemplary Scholarship
2006
Finalist for Thurgood Marshall College Senior of the Year
2006
Princeton Review Fastest Promotion to Master Teacher
2006
Kappa Alpha Theta Sister of the Year
2002-2006
UCSD Provost’s Honors List
2002-2006
Thurgood Marshall College Honors Program
2002
Special Olympics Recognition for Outstanding Commitment to the Program
2002
Rotary International Award for Outstanding Community Service
2002
Presidential Student Service Award for Outstanding Community Service
2002
California Governor’s Scholarship Award
2002
Marin County School Administrator Association Award for Exemplary Academics
2002
California State Assembly Recognition for Extraordinary Community Service
Research Experience
April 2008-June 2014
Graduate Student Researcher, University of California, San Diego
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology
Supervisor: Sandra Brown, Ph.D.
May 2009-Sep 2009
Project Coordinator, Forensis
Supervisors: Reid Meloy, Ph.D. and MJ Meloy, Ph.D.
July 2006-Sep 2008
Staff Research Associate, University of California, San Diego
Department of Psychiatry and VA San Diego Healthcare System
Supervisor: Susan F. Tapert, Ph.D.
July 2005-June 2006
Honors Student, University of California, San Diego
Department of Psychology
Mentor: Leslie J. Carver, Ph.D.
Jan 2006-April 2006
Field Researcher, Rady Children’s Hospital
Autism Intervention Toddler School
Supervisor: Clarissa Reese, Ph.D.
Volunteer Experience
Mar 2011-present
La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, CA
Member of Annual Gala Committee
Mar 2009-Aug 2010
La Jolla Art and Wine Festival, San Diego, CA
Founding Board Member, Co-Chair for Event, Artist Jury and Selection Chair
Sep 2003-June 2006
Rotaract Student Organization, University of California, San Diego
Community Service Chair
Sep 2003-June 2006
Kappa Alpha Theta, University of California, San Diego
Vice President: Development, KATwalk Chair, Financial Deputy, Service Chair
Sep 1997-June 2003
Special Olympics, Marin County, CA
Coach and Administrative Assistant
Publications
Book Chapters
Brown, S.A., Tomlinson, K., & Winward, J.L. Chapter 15: Substance Use Disorders in Adolescence. Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 2nd Edition, January 2013.
Brown, S.A., Tomlinson, K., & Winward, J.L. Chapter 15: Substance Use Disorders in Adolescence. Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 3rd Edition, currently in revision.
Papers
Winward, J.L., Hanson, K.L., Bekman, N.M., Tapert, S.F., & Brown, S.A. (2014). Adolescent heavy episodic drinking: Neurocognitive functioning during early abstinence. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 20(2), 218-229.
Winward, J.L., Bekman, N.M., Hanson, K.L., Lejuez, C.W., & Brown S.A. (2014). Changes in emotional reactivity and distress tolerance among heavy drinking adolescents during sustained abstinence. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 38(6), 1761-1769.
Winward, J.L., Hanson, K.L., Tapert, S.F., & Brown, S.A. Heavy alcohol use, marijuana use, and concomitant use by adolescents are associated with unique and shared cognitive decrements. (2014). Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 20 (8), 784-795.
Meloy, M.J., Meloy J.R., Eyler, L.T., Tapert, S.F., Winward, J.L., Pulido, C., & Mano, Q.R. Reduced implicit emotional processing as measured by fMRI in adolescent psychopathy and its relevance to instrumental violence. Biological Psychiatry. Manuscript UNDER REVIEW.
Bekman, N.M., Winward, J.L., Lau, L.L., Wagner, C.C., & Brown, S.A. (2013). The impact of adolescent binge drinking and sustained abstinence on affective state. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 37(8): 1432-1439.
Hanson, K.L, Winward, J.L, Schweinsburg, A.D., Medina, K.L., Brown, S.A., and Tapert, S.F. (2010). Longitudinal study of cognition among adolescent marijuana users over three weeks of abstinence. Addictive Behaviors, 35(11): 970-6.
Cohen-Zion, M, Drummond, S.P., Padula, C.B., Winward, J.L., Kanady, J., Medina, K.L., and Tapert,S.F. (2009). Sleep architecture in adolescent marijuana and alcohol users during acute and extended abstinence. Addictive Behaviors, 34(11): 976-9.
Presentations
Winward, J.L. (2014, January). Effects of protracted adolescent alcohol and marijuana use on brain development. Oral presentation given to the Stanford Alumni Club of Marin, California.
Winward, J.L., Schweinsburg, A.D., Medina, K.L., Meloy, M.J., and Tapert, S.F. (2007, June). Effects of adolescent marijuana use on fMRI brain activation to spatial working memory. Oral presentation given at the annual meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Quebec City, Canada.
Winward, J.L. & Carver, L.J. (2006, May). Neural correlates underlying temperament profiles in 18- month-old infants. Oral presentation given at the annual UCSD Undergraduate Research Conference in La Jolla, California.
Winward, J.L. (2006, March). Disparate Reading Readiness Behaviors in Typical and At-Risk Toddlers. Oral presentation given to students of the HDP 191 class at University of California, San Diego.
Posters
Winward, J.L., Hanson, Tapert, S.F., & Brown, S.A. (2014, August). Adolescents who use alcohol, marijuana, or both alcohol and marijuana show neuropsychological deficits relative to non-users after one month of abstinence. Presented at the 122nd annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.
Winward, J.L., Wagner, C., Hanson, K.L., Bekman, N.M., Tapert, S.F., & Brown, S.A. (2010, August). Neurocognitive changes during abstinence in adolescent binge drinkers: Preliminary findings. Presented at the 118th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.
Hanson, K.L., Bekman, N.M., Winward, J.L., Marcotte, T.D., & Brown, S.A. (2010, August). Adolescent neurocognition and simulated driving performance following alcohol abstinence. Presented at the 118th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.
Pulido, C., Wagner, C., Winward, J.L., Bekman, N.M., Hanson, K.L., Tapert, S.F., & Brown, S.A. (2010, August). Adolescent heavy drinkers heightened alcohol cue reactivity decreases with abstinence. Presented at the 118th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.
Wagner, C.C., Bekman, N.M., Winward, J.L., Hanson, K.L., Tapert, S.F., & Brown, S.A. (2010, June). The impact of binge drinking and sustained abstinence on mood and modulation of affective state. Presented at the 33rd annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Antonio, Texas.
Bekman, N.M., Winward, J.L., Wagner, C.C., Marcotte, T.C., Meyer, R.A., Hanson, K.L., Tapert, S.F., & Brown, S.A. (2009, June). Changes in risky driving in adolescent drinkers following abstinence. Presented at the 32nd annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Diego, CA.
Winward, J.L., Bekman, N.M., Jordan, S.J., Hanson, K.L., Tapert, S.F., Brown, S.A., Lejuez, C.W. (2009, June). Changes in distress tolerance among heavily drinking adolescents during sustained abstinence. Presented at the 32nd annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Diego, CA.
Winward, J.L., Schweinsburg, A.D., and Tapert, S.F. (2008, February). fMRI brain activation to spatial working memory in adolescent marijuana and polysubstance users. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Waikoloa, Hawaii.
Hanson, K.L, Winward, J.L, Schweinsburg, A.D., Medina, K.L., & Tapert, S.F. (2008, February). Longitudinal study of cognition among adolescent marijuana users over three weeks of abstinence. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Waikoloa, Hawaii.
Padula, C.B., Cohen-Zion, M., McQueeny, T., Winward, J.L,, Tapert, S.F., & Drummond, S.P. (2007, June). Subjective sleep measures in abstinent adolescent marijuana users. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Winward, J.L. & Carver, L.J. (2007, March). Neural correlates underlying temperament profiles in 18-month-old infants. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Boston, Massachusetts.