Dr. Jessica April Ward
100 University Drive
Prairie View A&M University | School of Architecture
e: jaward@pvamu.edu
c: 281-777-0633
EDUCATION
PhD Urban Planning and Environmental Policy
Texas Southern University, Barbara Jordan Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs Houston, Texas, May 12, 2023
Master of Architecture
Arizona State University, the Design School
Capstone Project: Rwanda: Regenerative Regionalism: Healing Environments in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.Tempe, Arizona, May 3, 2012
Bachelor of Art in the Built Environment
Arizona State University, the Design School (transfer credits from University of South Florida, School of Architecture and Community Design; + Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota, Florida), Tempe, Arizona
Pine View School for the Gifted. Sarasota, Florida
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Prairie View A&M University | School of Architecture, Prairie View, Texas Assistant Professor of Architecture (2015 Adjunct) ( TT 2018- )
Arizona State University | the Design School, Tempe, Arizona 2007 - 2009
Graduate Research Assistant + Graduate Teaching Assistant | Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and the Family + Urban Housing Analysis PUP 525
RESEARCH
Research Affiliations
Director | Integrated Design for Environmental and Climate Justice Research Community-based Collaborative Design Studio (2020- )
Built Research Facility
Prairie House 360, a modular, hurricane recovery home prototype with renewable energy designed by Dr Ward’s students was built on campus adjacent to the architecture building (2023-2024) Dr Ward and her research assistants facilitated the unique design/ build construction
External Funded Research Proposals
Principal Investigator | National Academies for Science, Engineering and Medicine | Gulf Research Program | Gulf Futures Initiative: Developing an Interdisciplinary Design Studio Investigating Complex Challenges in the Gulf of Mexico | Integrated Design for Environmental and Climate Justice Research (IDEA CJR) Community-Based Collaborative Design Studio at Prairie View A&M University: $750,000.00 (2024-2028)
● Created (1) part-time project management position
Faculty Advisor | National Trust for Historic Preservation HOPE Crew Digital Documentation HBCU Fellowship Program Washington, D C Prairie View A&M University Campus Palimpsest Mapping + Cemetery Documentation (2022, Summer-Fall)
Design for Aging Fellowship | American Institute of Architects, Design for Aging Knowledge Community: $10,000.00 (2019 - 2020)
External Research Encouraged to Submit Full Proposal
Principal Investigator | U.S. Department of Energy Resilience Center Grant | Integrated Design for Environmental and Climate Justice Research and Resilience Center (2023)
External Research Unfunded Proposal
University Partner (University of Florida Lead PI) | National Science Foundations | Center for Smart Cyber-construction and Affordable, Sustainable, and Resilient Buildings (2022)
Internal Funded Research Proposal
Director | U.S. Department of Education, Title III Grant, Integrated Design for Environmental and Climate Justice Research: $600,000.00. (2020-2024)
Faculty Advisor | Research & Innovation for Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Graduate and Undergraduate Research Assistants (2018-2022)
Faculty Enhancement Program Grant Recipient | (2019, $1800); (2020, $2937); (2023, $3000)
Undergraduate & Graduate Research Positions Created and Supervised External Grant (interdisciplinary) (4)
U S Department of Education Title III Research (6) Panther Research and Innovation for Scholarly Excellence (PRISE) (interdisciplinary) (3)
PUBLICATION
Book Chapter
Ward, J.A. (2025) Environmental Justice Heroes of Prairie View. Solo-authored book chapter for Black Profiles in Greatness: A Legacy of Prairie View A&M University (2025), edited by W.T. Hoston. Texas Tech University Press.
Journal Articles (peer-reviewed)
Ward, J A , Johnson, G S An Oral History of African American Seniors Seeking Hurricane Recovery and Climate Justice in the Gulf Coast Environmental Justice Submitted 2024
Ward, J.A., Johnson, G.S. An Oral History of African American Seniors Seeking Housing, Health, and Hurricane Recovery in the Gulf Coast After Hurricane Harvey. Journal of Public Management & Social Policy. Submitted 2024.
Ward, J A , Johnson, G S An Oral History of Hurricane Harvey: Environmental Justice as a Framework for Hurricane Recovery in the Gulf Coast. Ralph Bunche Journal of Public Affairs. Submitted 2024.
Published International Conference Proceeding Papers (double blind peer review)
Ward, J A (2024) Integrated Design for Environmental and Climate Justice Research, House 360 7th Residential Building Design and Construction Annual Conference Proceedings, Penn State, College of Engineering, March, p.127. +LINK
Ward, J A (2024) IDEA Climate Justice Research: House 360 Prototypes 112th American Institute of Architects/ Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) Annual Meeting Proceedings, Disruptors on the Edge March, p 746 +LINK
Ward, J.A. (2020). Design Studio as Integrated Living Lab for Climate Justice: Houston. 108th American INstitute of Architects/ Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) Annual Meeting Proceedings, Open. March, p.888.
Invited International Conference Presentations
(2024) Presentation. 112th American Institute of Architects/ Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ASCA) Annual Meeting Canada
(2024) Presentation. Pennsylvania Housing Research Center at Penn State, College of Engineering, 7th Residential Building Design and Construction Annual Conference Penn State
(2020) Presentation 108th American Institute of Architects/ Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) Annual meeting. Virtual due to COVID.
(2019-2020) Presentation. American Institute of Architects, Environments for Aging Annual Conference. San Dego, California
Invited National Conference Presentations
(2018) Keynote Speaker. Greater Houston Environmental Summit. Houston, Texas. (2016) Presenter. Intersections Conference. Houston, Texas.
(2015) Presenter. Neighborhoods USA Conference. Houston, Texas. (2012) Presenter. Architecture for Humanity Conference. San Francisco, California.
Guest Lecturer
(2013) Texas A&M University, College of Architecture College Station, TX (2012) Arizona State University, the Design School Tempe, Arizona
Conference Special Sessions and Panels Organized
Organizer | Building Decarbonization & Environmental Justice Panel Prairie View A&M University (2024) Summit Committee | U S Green Building Council Communities & Affordable Homes Summit Washington, D C (2015)
Dissertation
Ward, J.A. Seniors Seeking Housing, Health, and Climate Justice, an Oral History of Hurricane Recovery in the Gulf Coast. Texas Southern University, 2023.
Other Non-Refereed Publications
Ward, J A (April 30, 2022) An Oral History of Hurricane Harvey: Seniors seeking housing, health, and climate justice in the Gulf Coast, North America American Institute of Architects Design for Aging Network +LINK
Student Publication
City of Houston, Planning & Development Department. ADU | HOU Accessory Dwelling Units: Houston Design Book. (2021) pp.18-19 +
TEACHING
Awards Received by Students
Student Design Award City of Houston, Planning & Development Department ADU Design Competition (2022) Student Team: Joseph Livings, Jaylin Lee, Anderson Yauripoma and Covington Thompson
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten for Students Competition (2018-2019) Student Team: Kennia Lopez, Cynthia Suarez-Harris, and Ledell Thomas
Grand Winner and 1st Place Urban Single Family, U S Department of Energy Race to Zero Student Competition (2018) Student Team: Kristen Clark, Aaron Farray, Shannen Martin, Noah Perkins, Shelby Skinner, Kaylah Wesley, Kennia Lopez, Cynthia Suarez-Harris, and Ledell Thomas
Studio Design Award, Texas Society of Architects (2018) Student Team: Kristen Clark, Aaron Farray, Shannen Martin, Noah Perkins, Shelby Skinner, Kaylah Wesley, Reuben Cheeks, Kennia Lopez, Cynthia Suarez-Harris, and Ledell Thomas
Special Distinction for Building Community Through Architecture, American Institute of Architects (AIA) Houston and the City of Houston Council (2018); Student Team: Reuben Cheeks, Kristin Clark, Aaron Farray, Kennia Lopez, Shannen Martin, CPHC, Noah Perkins, Shelby Skinner, Cynthia Suarez-Harris, CPHC, Ledell Thomas, CPHC and Kaylah Wesley
2nd Place (2017) AIA Gulf Coast Green Student Competition; Student Team: Shelby Skinner and Carlos Arboleda
Sustainable Design Winners, $7000 (November 18, 2016) Texas Central Texas Bullet Train Station Student Competition; Student Team: Ledell Thomas and Kaylah Wesley
Honorable Mention (November 18, 2016) Texas Central Texas Bullet Train Station Student Competition; Student Team: Isaac Watson, Roderick Henderson, and Nadia Gooding
Grand Winner and 1st Place Urban Single Family, U.S. Department of Energy Race to Zero Student Competition (2016) Student Team: Alexis Borman, Chris Brown, Desirae Price, Graciela Tendilla, Sean Benson, Taylor Hudson, Devonte Magee, Yasmine Parker
Design Excellence Urban Single Family, U S Department of Energy Race to Zero Student Competition (2015)
Scholarships and Fellowships Received by Students
National Trust for Historic Preservation HOPE Crew Digital Documentation HBCU Fellowship Program (2024); Student: Kaylah Phillips
National Trust for Historic Preservation PastForward Diversity Scholarship (2024); Student: Autumn Rose
Next Gen Professional Development Program, New Buildings Institute (2023); Student: Kaylah Phillips
HOK Diversity x Design Scholarship, $10,000 (June, 2022); Student: Jaylin Lee
National Trust for HIstoric Preservation HOPE Crew Digital Documentation HBCU Fellowship Program (2022); Student: LaTavia Latham
Molitoris Leadership Scholarship for Undergraduates, $1000 (2021-2022) Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS); Student: Rut Rosario
HOK Diversity x Design Scholarship, $10,000 (June 24, 2021); Student: Brooke Meshack
Gensler Summer Fellowship (2021); Student: Alexis Adjorlolo
Students Featured in the News Equity in Practice: NOMA HBCU Professional Development Program (2023) The AIA College of Fellows Quarterly, p 21 +LINK |Students: Alexis Adjorlolo and Soleil Sipes
Alabama leads nation in building windstorm-resilient homes Here’s what other Gulf states can learn (May 2, 2023) Houston Chronicle +LINK | Student: Joseph Livings, Graduate Research Assistant
FORTIFIED Home (June 12, 2003) +LINK | Student: Joseph Livings, Jaylin Lee, and Russell Lewis; Graduate Research Assistants
Fortified: The Standard for ADUs. (June 30, 2023) video +LINK | Student: Jaylin Lee, Graduate Research Assistant
Trailer for the HBCU Fellowship Documentary (HOPE Crew) (September 25, 2023) National Trust for HIstoric Preservation video +LINK and HOPE Crew Fellowship Program for HBCU Students - Prairie View (October 3, 2023), video +LINK | Students: LaTavia Latham, National Trust for Historic Preservation HOPE Crew HBCU Digital Documentation Fellow and Aliya Beechum, RISE Fellow
How experts are saying to prepare your home for the next storm (June 11, 2021) 7KPLC video +LINK; Student: Covington Thompson, Graduate Research Assistant
PVAMU’s School of Architecture collaborates with Habitat for Humanity to build homes, structures in Houston area (April 09, 2021) Prairie View A&M University +LINK PVAMU Social Media (251 likes, 70 shares) +LINK
HOK Announces New Scholarship for BIPOC Architecture Students +LINK; Student: Brooke Meshack
School of Architecture Race to Zero Team wins prestigious AIA COTE Top Ten Student Design Award (April 22, 2019) Prairie View A&M University +LINK
SOA Design Team receives Special Distinction Award in City of Houston contest. (September 09, 2018) Prairie View A&M University +LINK
Complete the Community Competition Winners (August 22, 2018) AIA Houston +LINK
School of Architecture Grand Winner at Race to Zero Student Competition. (April 04, 2018) Prairie View A&M University +LINK
Studio Awards: the Fly Flat (November 01,2018) Texas Architect +LINK
TXA Studio Awards 2018. (August 02, 2018) Prairie View A&M University +LINK
Prairie View A&M is Grand Winner for Energy. (May 03,2018) U.S. Black Engineer +LINK
AIA Gulf Coast Green Student Competition 2017 First Place and Runner-up (April 04, 2017) +LINK
Prairie View A&M students win bullet train competition (December 01, 2016) KWHI Where News Comes First +LINK
Architecture students win prize at Texas Central Competition. (December 01, 2016) Prairie View A&M University +LINK
UT and Prairie View students take top prizes in Texas bullet train station designs (November 30, 2016) Texas Rail Associates +LINK
Texas Bullet Train Stations Prefigured in Student Design Competition. (March/ April 2017) Texas Architect Magazine +LINK
Bullet Train Winners Chosen. (December 09,2016) Texas Architect +LINK
These Texas university students may have helped design Dallas’ bullet train station (November 30, 2016) The Dallas Morning News +LINK
Prairie View A&M Team wins DOE Design Competition. (July 11, 2016) ProBuilder +LINK
Prairie View A&M Tops 2016 U S Department of Energy Race to Zero Student Design Competition (April 22, 2016) The Federal Newswire +LINK
Prairie View A&M Students are among the winners in DOE’s Race to Zero Competition (April 23, 2015) Texas A&M University Energy Institute +LINK
Senior Architecture Design/ Capstone Projects (221) (Min. 10 weekly contact hours per student) (35,360 teaching hours)
Extremely high % matriculation rate of seniors to the School of Architecture Graduate Program (required for students to qualify for Architectural licensure)
Graduate Internship Students (76)
Courses Taught (Pre-Professional Architecture, Construction Science) (921 students) Architecture Design (upper level), Sustainable Building, Net Zero, Materials & Methods, Visual Communication, Internship
News Features
On the road: Stanford BDLA, Prairie View A&M and Architectural Partner Visit (April 10, 2024) Point Energy Innovations +LINK
Early Energy Modeling Presentation at Prairie View A&M - School of Architecture. (February 27, 2023) BIM Chapters: Exploring digital & performance aspects of architecture +LINK
Prairie VIew A&M University Career Fair Fun! (September 14, 2023) BIM Chapters: Exploring digital & performance aspects of architecture +LINK
MacKensie Scott grant awards $5M to Houston Community Land Trust for affordable housing pilot. (October 17, 2023) Houston Chronicle +LINK
PVAMU architecture students’ winning design could be a game-changer following natural disasters (June 2, 2022) Prairie View A&M University +LINK
PVAMU 2019 Academic Year-in-Review. (August 22, 2019) PVAMU Center for Instructional Innovation and Technology Services, video +LINK
Architecture Professor to use AIA grant to help portion of Houston’s Aging Population. (February 15, 2019) Prairie View A&M University Academic Insights, p.4 + +LINK
Future Architect Design Competition: Sustainable Design Winners and Honorable Mention. (December 02, 2016) Prairie View A&M University +LINK
Texas University students compete to design bullet train stations (October 20, 2016) KCENTV +LINK
Texas bullet train project opens doors for campus-corporate partnership (December 1, 2016) Higher Ed Dive +LINK
Houston-Galveston Area Council launches rapid housing pilot program. (February 3, 2015) CW39 Houston +LINK
H-GAC offers alternative for disaster relief housing (January 19, 2015) Houston Chronicle +LINK
Mapping New Healthcare Infrastructure After Genocide. Silvas, Jennifer. (June 12, 2012) Health Design Magazine. +LINK
SERVICE
University
Presidential Committee Member (LeGrande) | Campus Stewardship of Historic Site (2024- )
Faculty Senate Secretary (2022-2023)
Presidential Committee Member (Simmons)| Ombudsperson Search Committee (2022)
Faculty Senate Tenure & Promotion Committee Co-chair (2021-2023)
Faculty Advisor | Pilot Habitat for Humanity PVAMU Campus Chapter (2020- )
School of Architecture
Co-Chair | Research + Scholarly Works Committee (2023 - )
Faculty Senator (2021-2023)
Co-Chair | Annual Lecture Committee (2017-2023)
Department of Architecture & Department of Construction Science Committee | Accreditation Committee for the American Council of Construction Education (2023) Committee | Accreditation Committee for the National Architectural Accrediting Board Review (2018) Faculty Advisor | American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) (2017-2023)
Professional
Invited Peer Reviewer International Conference Papers (2024) 7th Residential Building Design & Construction Conference, Penn State, College of Engineering (2024) ACSA 112 Annual Meeting: Disruptors on the Edge (2023) AIA/ ACSA Intersections Research Conference: MATERIAL ECONOMIES (2021) AIA/ ACSA Intersections Research Conference: COMMUNITIES (2020) AIA/ ACSA Intersections Research Conference: CARBON
Invited External Juror/ Reviewer/ Participant (2022- ) U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab. JUMP into STEM Professor Team (2022-2023) University of Houston, College of Architecture and Design (2022) University of Louisiana at Lafayette, School of Architecture and Design (2017) National Organization of Minority Architects - Professional Design Awards (2017) Hip Hop Architecture Camp. Houston, Texas
Community
Director, Board Member, Grant Writer | Living Paradigm CDC, Houston, Texas (2015- )
Hurricane Harvey Recovery Grants Received for renovation of community house | $475,000
Hurricane Harvey In-Kind Donations Received | $600,000
Board Member | Architecture for Humanity, Houston, Texas (2012-2015)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Architectural Designer/ Consultant |Houston, Texas (2015- )
● Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC), Back Home Rapid Recovery Housing Prototype
● Prototype home designer of the H-GAC Back Home rapid housing recovery pilot program which explored an alternative post-disaster housing model to provide permanent housing that is durable, efficient, meets local codes, and fits into the neighborhood A modular core unit, consisting of a living area, kitchen, and bathroom, delivered as soon as debris is removed, allowing families to return to their communities quickly
● 20 Built
Assistant Director | Building Community Workshop, Houston, Texas (2014-2015)
● Conducted City of Houston Disaster Recovery Round 2 (DR2) single family home design and community engagement process involving neighborhood residents, community leaders, and local design architects.
Junior Architect | Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix, Arizona (2012-2013)
● Construction management of over $1,000,000 00 budget to rehab 15 single family homes, funded by the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Stabilization Program
Planning Consultant | Tempe, Arizona (2006-2012)
Facility Planner | BPLW/ ASCG Architects & Engineers, Mesa, Arizona (2006-2007)
Design Review Planner | City of Mesa, Arizona (2005-2006)
Office Assistant | Carl Abbott Architects/ Planners PA, Sarasota, Florida (1998-2000)
PLANNING REPORTS
(2010) Rio Rancho School District 5-year Facility Master Plan. State of New Mexico Public School Facilities Authority.
(2010) MASTERS Charter School 5-year Facility Master Plan. State of New Mexico Public School Facilities Authority.
(2009) Creating Choice Neighborhoods in Phoenix: The Coffelt-Lamoreau Public Housing Neighborhood. the Housing Authority of Maricopa County.
(2009) Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) Multifamily Village. the SRPMIC Housing Division.
(2008) Old Town Avondale Revitalization Plan. the City of Avondale Neighborhood and Family Services Commission.
(2006) East Valley Technical Institute Land Use Plan. the East Valley Technical Institute Governing Board. (2005-2006) City of Mesa Design Review Board various staff reports for the City of Mesa Planning Division, including: Home Depot within Mesa River; Mesa Fire Station 215; Chili’s.
TECHNICAL REPORTS
Rain Gardens
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Getting Ready for Quality Matters Workshop (GRQM), Center for Instructional Innovation and Technology Services, Prairie View A&M University (July 22, 2020)
Introduction to Teaching Online (ITO), Center for Instructional Innovation and Technology Services, Prairie View A&M University (July 15, 2020)
Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification, the Center for Health Design (March 2019)
Green Classroom Professional, The Center for Green Schools, The U S Green Building Council (August 17, 2017)
INVITED PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS
(2024) Stanford Building Decarbonization Learning Accelerator Morehouse University, Atlanta, Georgia (2024) Prairie View A&M University Be Global Infusion Summit (2024) Prairie View A&M University Gulf Scholars Program Faculty Cohort (2023) Stanford Building Decarbonization Learning Accelerator. Stanford, California (2023) Prairie View A&M University African American Studies Summer Institute