Documentary Photography

As an undergraduate student drifts to sleep in the background, Dr. Ward Lyles, 46, listens to guest lecturers from Douglas County Planning in Lyles's class, “Planning The Sustainable City, at the University of Kansas on April 25.

Will Lyles,10, and his father Ward recuperate after a climbing session at Climb Lawrence on March 2. Ward guided Will through his first season competing in the sport, and both Will and Ward are learning to train for the upcoming competitions together.

Lyles formulates his answer to a student who came to his office door to ask for help on Feb. 21. The student is in the process of switching into the Urban Planning program, which Lyles specializes in. "You're always trying to find the best windowsill to put the plant on so that you can grow the best," Lyles advised.

Lyles bikes to class across campus from his office in order to reduce his carbon footprint on April 25. Anytime the weather and the distance allows for it, Lyles can be seen biking to his next location.

Lyles records the bird tweets that he hears from the Baker Wetlands through an app on his phone, Merlin Bird ID, on April 26. The app picked up 46 species throughout the three-mile hike, all of them previously observed by Lyles.

Lyles ascends a boulder at Climb Lawrence on March 2. Lyles uses climbing as an activity to bond with his son, Will, and keep in shape.

Meg Lyles, 48, middle, and Will practice a standing balance pose while Ward gets ready for the position at Climb Lawrence on March 2. Meg, Ward’s wife, is in the process of getting her 200-hour-yoga certification and instructs her family for fun. Ward enjoys taking yoga classes regularly in order to stay flexible and practice meditation. This was Will's first attempt.

Lyles leads a panel on risk reduction at the Global Climate Teach-in that he organized on March 29. He's wearing a “landback” t-shirt, made by NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led organization focused on building Indigenous power. Ward has supported the group’s cause through gestures like this.

Lyles advises doctoral students Yiwen Wu and Kelly Overstreet at McLain's Coffee Shop in Lawrence, Kan. on March 9. Overstreet has been working with Lyles for nearly ten years. She describes Lyles as "somebody who understands that life is happening to all of us all the time, and respects that we don’t separate our identity when we walk into the classroom or the office.”

A student waits to ask Lyles a question in his class, Planning The Sustainable City, at the University of Kansas on April 25.

Lyles leads the conversation with guest lecturers from Douglas County Planning while his students listen at the University of Kansas on April 25.

Lyles reflects on his colleagues' remarks at the Global Climate Teach-in that he led on March 29. "Going back [home] to my kids reminds me why I'm in this research and why I'm doing this work," doctoral student Kelly Overstreet said regarding what motivates her. Lyles nodded in agreement.

Sustainable Living: Inside the Classroom and Beyond

How can an overloaded professor stay motivated to help his community, his family and himself?

“An idle brain can get me to places that are more negative emotionally — [taking on responsibilities] is a distraction mechanism,” said Ward Lyles, 47, an associate professor at the University of Kansas (KU).

Lyles works in the Urban Planning Program within KU’s School of Public Affairs and Administration. He’s an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) member, a husband and a father to three boys under 18.

During the spring 2023 semester, he also spent six months planning a climate justice teach-in for roughly 70 attendees.

He also serves as the KU rock climbing club advisor. He birds often. He cycles on gravel (or his trainer when it’s too cold.) He frequents Wednesday night trivia.

He’s got a lot on his plate.

With all of these responsibilities, the pressure builds up — quickly. Does Lyles possess the mental stamina to persevere with this demanding lifestyle?

Lyles is always moving, trying to teach those around him and learn for himself. This drive for growth and upholding healthy practices makes him the perfect representative of university instructors and the amount of work they do in and beyond the classroom.

Lyles’ method of avoiding exhaustion stems from a combination of overlapping his work in the community with his interests and hobbies.

He says his routines of exercising his body, teaching his classes, advising his students and spending time with his family all assist one another. To ward off burnout in any one section of his life, he practices showing respect to his peers by staying concentrated in every moment.

By making his everyday activities overlap with his vocation, he’s discovered the habits that promote a healthy mind. Whether in his coffee shop meetings with doctoral candidates or spending quality time with his son at the climbing gym, Lyles practices being present no matter what the scenario is.

“When I’m at home reading a book, I’m at home reading a book, and not spending too much time looking forward to the next thing,” Lyles said.

Whether it’s at the climbing gym, in the classroom or on the trails, Lyles emphasizes his sense of style. He intentionally mismatches his socks, with pink flamingos on one foot and gardening gnomes on the other. The next day it might be Mr. Rogers and RV campers. And then, dumpster fires and a donkey wearing glasses.

“It’s a pretty lowkey way to express your quirkiness,” Lyles said.

The rest of his outfit also expresses ideas of solidarity to those willing to look for it.

“[I] wear t-shirts that have a message that I hope people notice,” Lyles said. “Sometimes the message may be an insider message, a hashtag or something that will signal to a group, ‘Hey, I see you and I know enough to know that this is a sign of support.’”

One morning, Lyles was birding before classes. He talked about the use of medication to combat anxiety. After reflecting on his experiences, he shared a piece of advice that his wife, Meg, gave him on the subject.

“You know, it’s okay to accept help from medication, just like accepting help from others. You don’t have to go through it alone,” he remembers his wife saying.

Lyles’ journey of coping has fluctuated over time. As he looked over the wetlands of Lawrence, Kan that morning, he recalled what his wife told him and how it provided him a sense of solace, another piece of the puzzle. Something that might help him find balance. Being overwhelmed is not an easy task for Lyles to manage.

But, he believes, you don’t have to go through it alone.