Ashley Ward

Ashley Ward’s work focuses on strengthening community resilience and protecting human health in the face of environmental challenges. She directs the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability. In this role, Ward brings together scientists and communities to develop and deploy innovative policy solutions that reduce the impacts of extreme heat on human health and well-being. Ward’s career has focused on engaging communities to identify and address issues related to resilience challenges, and helping communities develop long-term, sustainable strategies relevant to their needs. Ward’s previous work with NOAA’s Carolinas Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) team connected rural and urban communities and policy-decision makers with relevant climate and health data, particularly related to risks and impacts. She has continued to bridge the gap between science, data, policy, and community at Duke’s Nicholas Institute. In this setting, Ward works with communities, public agencies, and policymakers to create and inform effective policy solutions to difficult environmental challenges. Prior to launching the Heat Policy Innovation Hub, Ward has worked on the Internet of Water (IoW) Coalition at the Nicholas Institute, helping public agencies modernize their water data infrastructure to better manage water resources. On the IoW team, she has led stakeholder and policy engagement, pilot programs, and the development of the Technology Adoption Program (TAP) designed to guide public agencies through the organizational and behavioral changes needed to modernize their water data infrastructure. Before her work with Duke and RISA, Ward completed her PhD in geography and worked with communities throughout NC on a host of issues such as local food availability and asset-based economic development strategies. Her passion is building coalitions to advance scientific understanding and communicate information in a way that is relevant for use by decision-makers. Having worked in a broad range of communities with varying levels of capacity, Ward is particularly thoughtful about meeting communities where they are and working from there to achieve community goals.