Kelly Marie Ward

Kelly Marie Ward is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, jointly appointed in the Department of Gender & Women's Studies and the Department of Sociology within the College of Letters & Science. Her research focuses on organizational dynamics in reproductive healthcare, particularly the roles of low-status workers in abortion care. A recipient of prestigious awards including the Anna Julia Cooper Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Abortion Federation’s Carole Joffe and Stanley Henshaw Award, and the Society for Family Planning’s Emerging Scholars Award, Dr. Ward contributes to reproductive equity through her academic work and community engagement.

• Anna Julia Cooper Postdoctoral Fellow
• Engagement Hub Advisor at UW Madison’s Collaborative on Reproductive Equity
• Co-facilitator for the Abortion Researcher Incubator at UCSF’s Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health

Her interdisciplinary approach bridges sociology, gender studies, and public health, challenging traditional frameworks of recovery post-pandemic by advocating for transformative social change rather than restoration of pre-existing systems.

• Published in Journal of Health and Social Behavior
• Published in Contraception
• Published in Mobilization
• Published in The Sociological Quarterly

Dr. Ward emphasizes humility in addressing social inequities and is a full-spectrum doula committed to supporting pregnant individuals' autonomy.