Ward Lyles

Ward Lyles is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Planning at the University of Kansas. His research focuses on natural hazards mitigation, climate change adaptation, and the intersection of social networks in planning processes. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has extensive experience in non-profit organizations and civic engagement. Lyles is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and has secured significant research funding, including a National Science Foundation CAREER award. His teaching emphasizes active learning, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and he has been recognized for innovative pedagogy.

Education: PhD in City and Regional Planning from UNC Chapel Hill (postdoc), followed by roles at 1000 Friends of Wisconsin and co-founding Madison Magnet. Research spans environmental planning, social network analysis, and policy evaluation. Notable achievements include over 400 citations, an H-index of 11, and leadership in interdisciplinary projects like the Climate Justice Symposium with The Commons grant.

Research Interests: Reducing disaster risks through compassionate planning frameworks, integrating mindfulness into policy, and advancing methodologies like network analysis. Recent work explores regional approaches to risk reduction and equity in climate adaptation.

Grants and Collaborations: NSF CAREER award ($500k), Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program collaboration, and multiple internal grants. Teaching innovations include Team-Based Learning and DEI-focused syllabi, recognized through awards like the KU Ned Fleming Teaching Award nomination.

• Awards: NSF Hazards Fellowship (2015-16), Top Reviewer (JPER 2015), CTE Diversity Scholars (2016-17).
• Publications: Over 15 peer-reviewed articles in top journals (e.g., Journal of the American Planning Association), focusing on hazards, climate adaptation, and planning processes.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary groups on climate justice and resilience, including projects at Texas A&M and the University of Oklahoma.