Woodward founded DAVID WOODWARD & ASSOCIATES LLC (DW) in 2016 and leads in the development of multi-site organizations, marketing and outreach strategy, corporate board and organizational development and change management, and setting up strategic relationships worldwide. He coordinates the formation and expansion of international marketing consortia, and collaborative initiatives across professional disciplines. In addition, Woodward initiates the development of business startups in EdTech and international educational projects involving small businesses, universities, corporations, and government agencies within the U.S. and in peer regions of the world.

Woodward most recently served as the Senior Advisor for Global Engagement with Seattle University (3/2022 - 6/2023). He has previously served as the Senior Advisor for Strategic Outreach with INTERLINK International Institutes (2017 - 2022), the Senior Advisor in the U.S. for American University of Sharjah Enterprises LLC (2018 - 2019), a Principal for Yunity LLC (2021 - 2023), and President & CEO of Associates in Cultural Exchange (1998 - 2016).

Woodward volunteers with the following organizations:

• American Consortium of Universities, President

• Association of Washington International Student Affairs, Member

• District Export Council for Washington State, Chair

• Seattle International Affairs Advisory Board

• Rotary Club of Seattle, Diplomacy Roundtable, Founder

• Reading Partners, Tutor

• International Expressions of Kindness Advisory Board

• General Incorporated Foundation Japan Study Abroad Foundation, Director

• Asociación Mexicana Para La Educación Internacional (AMPEI), Advisory Board Member Counselor

• Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA), Constituent Council Member

• Taproot Theatre Company Board of Directors

• University of Washington Persian & Iranian Studies Program Advisory Board

• Peyvand Advisory Board

• Keystone Education Group Advisory Board

• UniQuest U.S. Advisory Board

• American University Iraq Sulaimani Innovation Awards, Judge (2022)

Clients Woodward has worked with include the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, the Eiken Foundation of Japan, the Ministry of Education of Korea, the Yemeni Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources, Samsung Corporation, World Learning, AMIDEAST, Academy for Educational Development, Boeing, Microsoft, USAID, EPA, the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT), the Japan-U.S. Exchange Commission and dozens of universities and schools worldwide. Woodward has also provided recruiting, consulting and liaison services for Sultan Qaboos University (Muscat), the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Abu Dhabi), Goodman Real Estate (Seattle), and Quality Schools International (Ljubljana). He has established contracts for services, branch offices and representative service arrangements with client organizations in Oman, Kazakhstan, Russia, Switzerland, Japan, Korea, Australia, and six U.S. states, as well as managing for-profit and not-for-profit subsidiaries and spin-offs. 

Woodward was born in Iran where he spent his early youth and developed a fascination for languages and cultures of the world. As a result, he became fluent in Persian, French and Arabic, studied Greek, Hebrew and German, and has traveled to over 50 countries. Following studies at Carleton College (Northfield, MN) and the University of Washington (Seattle, WA), he received a National Resource Fellowship in Near Eastern Languages and Civilization in 1981 completing the degree in 1985. Woodward holds four degrees from the University of Washington including a Master of Education in Higher Education with a specialization in Teaching English as a Second Language, a Master of Arts in Near Eastern Languages and Civilization, a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, and a Bachelor of Arts in History. Beside teaching for A.C.E., Woodward taught English as a foreign language at Kuwait University in 1982-83. Over his career he has presented extensively in forums and conferences on international business, cross-cultural communication, language education, international program administration, and Middle East civilization.

Presentation: “International Recruiting Strategies in a Rapidly Changing Environment” at Association of Washington International Student Affairs quarterly conference on March 1, 2024.

Publication: Managing a Successful International Admissions Office: NAFSA's Guide to International Admissions (contributing author), Mar 1, 2017, by NAFSA: Association of International Educators - Developed to assist international enrollment management (IEM) professionals in working with international applicants, Managing a Successful International Admissions Office: NAFSA's Guide to International Admissions provides an overview of issues related to international admissions. It covers international undergraduate and graduate admissions issues, as well as special topics such as conditional admission, bridge and pathway programs, agents, and more.