Mako Fitts Ward

Mako Fitts Ward is an Assistant Professor of African American and Women and Gender Studies at Arizona State University (ASU), affiliated with The Design School in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. She serves as Director of the Social Transformation Lab, fostering cross-sector collaborations for inclusive equity strategies. Her research focuses on Black cultural production, urban creative placemaking, and intersectional social inequalities. Ward holds a PhD in Justice Studies from ASU, complemented by an MS in Justice Studies and a BA in Political Science and Gender Studies from the University of Southern California.

Her work bridges academia and activism, including co-editing The Pandemic Reader: Exposing Social (In)justice in the Time of COVID-19 (2021) and leading studies like the Women in the Mix Study and Black Women Thriving report. She currently leads grants on health disparities, inclusive leadership, and BIPOC arts organizations. Ward’s writing appears in outlets like The Conversation, Huffington Post, and academic journals such as Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies.

Her research interests span Black feminist theory, hip hop activism, and economic justice. As Interim Director of the Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology at ASU, she advocates for systemic change through data-driven solutions. Ward’s interdisciplinary approach integrates design, policy, and community engagement to advance equity in arts, education, and public health.