Susie Strife

Susie Strife is Boulder County’s Sustainability Director, leading the county’s widely recognized sustainability and climate action initiatives. An innovative, big-picture thinker, she is passionate about piloting bold ideas locally and scaling them nationwide through public–private partnerships that deliver turnkey solutions in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation.

Susie has pioneered climate action services across Colorado, accelerating decarbonization and the adoption of clean energy technologies. She co-founded Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA), the state’s first coalition of local governments advocating for climate-protective policies, which was instrumental in passing Colorado’s most sweeping climate and energy legislation. She also co-founded the 4 Corners Carbon Coalition, a first-of-its-kind platform for local governments working together to catalyze carbon dioxide removal.

Alongside her public sector leadership, Susie is deeply committed to education and mentorship. For more than 15 years, she has taught at the University of Colorado, served on the boards of multiple environmental nonprofits, and mentored the next generation of climate leaders. She earned her PhD from CU Boulder in 2009 as an EPA STAR Fellow and holds a BA from Middlebury College.

Motivated daily by her two young daughters, Susie is committed to building a vibrant future for all youth. Outside of work, she is an avid backcountry skier and trail runner—but her favorite role is being “mom” to her spirited little girls.