Joy K. Ward

Joy K. Ward is the Provost and Executive Vice President at Case Western Reserve University, as well as a Professor of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. She previously served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, leading significant growth in research, fundraising, and educational initiatives. Her leadership spans academic administration, research, and teaching at local, national, and international levels.

Ward holds a BS from Penn State University and master’s/PhD in Biology from Duke University. She is internationally recognized for her research on plant responses to rising atmospheric CO₂ and climate change, integrating fossil records to predict future ecological adaptations. She co-edited Photosynthesis, Respiration and Climate Change (Springer, 2021).

• Leadership Initiatives: Driving a $300M Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, advancing ethical AI through faculty hiring, and championing civil discourse initiatives.
• Funding & Partnerships: Spearheaded a $60M mental health initiative with the Moll family and secured $8M+ for the Expanding Horizons Initiative, fostering student-faculty research collaborations.
• Advocacy & Boards: Serves on the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate advisory committee and Holden Forests and Gardens board.

Ward’s awards include the AAAS Fellowship, Presidential Early Career Award, and Kavli Fellow distinction. She actively promotes science diplomacy through roles with the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and State Department.