Ashley Ward

Director, Heat Policy Innovation Hub, Nicholas Institute, Duke University

Ashley is a climate-health and resilience professional. Her career has focused on engaging communities to identify and address issues related to climate change, and helping communities develop long-term, sustainable strategies relevant to their community needs. Her previous work with NOAA’s Carolinas RISA team connected rural and urban communities and policy-decision makers with relevant climate and health data, particularly related to vulnerabilities and impacts. Ashley has since continued to bridge the gap between science, data, policy, and community at Duke’s Nicholas Institute. As Director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub, Ashley works with communities, public agencies, and policymakers to create and inform effective policy solutions to extreme heat.

Prior to her work with Duke and CISA, Ashley completed her PhD in Geography and worked with communities throughout NC on a host of issues such as local food availability and asset-based economic development strategies.