Ward Lyles

Ward Lyles’ research and teaching interests center on the intersection of people, the built environment, and the natural environment. His current National Science Foundation and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration-funded research projects explore 1) the use of planning to reduce long-term risks from natural hazards and climate change, 2) the role of compassion-oriented frameworks and practices to advance equity and justice in planning, and 3) community-led partnerships that harness the strengths of universities. Lyles has published articles in the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Cityscape, the Journal of Planning Literature, Natural Hazards Review, and other journals. He holds a PhD from the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also worked as a post-doctoral research associate. Before obtaining his PhD, Lyles lived in Madison, Wisconsin, where he worked at 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, a planning-oriented non-profit organization, co-founded Madison Magnet, a social capital-oriented non-profit organization, and was very engaged in civic and political life of the city. Lyles is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.