Kerry Ward

Kerry Ward is an Associate Professor of History at Rice University and Co-Director of the Program in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities. Her research focuses on global slavery, colonialism, and Indian Ocean history. She holds a PhD from the University of Michigan and degrees from the University of Cape Town and University of Adelaide.

Her work examines forced migration under the Dutch East India Company (VOC), human trafficking in modern contexts, and the global dimensions of the American Civil War in the Indian Ocean region. She explores how museums engage with contemporary social issues like anti-human trafficking through exhibitions and partnerships.

Teaching areas include world history, modern slavery, Indian Ocean history, and African/Southeast Asian studies. She has published extensively on colonial legal systems, diaspora, and the intersection of museums with human rights advocacy. Current research projects involve museum activism against human trafficking and the Confederate Civil War's impact in the Indian Ocean.