About
About Sustainability at CU Boulder
Our Approach
Rising to Meet the Urgency of This Moment
"CU Boulder is committed to addressing the urgent sustainability challenges of our time. We are building on a strong foundation to meet this critical moment — defining new standards of excellence, inspiring others to act, and leading Colorado toward a sustainable future."
— Chancellor Justin Schwartz
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability coordinates CU Boulder's strategy across four interconnected priorities: equipping students with the skills to solve humanity's most pressing challenges; translating cutting-edge research into real-world action; leading by example through sustainable campus operations; and partnering with communities locally and globally to scale solutions.
Through campus initiatives and partners, including the SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education, Sustainability Research Initiative, Environmental Center, our Climate Action Plan, the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability and numerous others, we are accelerating progress from the classroom to statewide policy and global frameworks.
A Legacy of Leadership
Over 75 Years of Environmental Commitment
CU Boulder's sustainability story didn't begin with Earth Day — it began decades earlier, with researchers, students, and leaders who understood that protecting our planet was inseparable from advancing knowledge.
Years of continuous environmental research and leadership
National and global sustainability "firsts" achieved by CU Boulder
STARS Gold certified — including the first university ever, in 2009
Year CU established the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR)
Recognition & Rankings
Home to 5 Nobel Laureates
#1 rank globally in Earth Sciences (ARWU 2025)
#3 rank globally in Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (US News & World Report 2026)
#7 rank globally in Geosciences (US News & World Report 2026)
#7 rank nationally for Environmental Law (US News & World Report 2026)
#8 rank globally in climate science research (Carbon Brief 2026)
#8 rank nationally for Aerospace Engineering (US News & World Report 2026)
#12 rank nationally for Sustainability, QS World University Rankings (2026)
STARS Gold: 5 consecutive ratings, first university to ever earn it
Host of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability
Princeton Review: 98/99 Green Rating (2026)
30 LEED Platinum and Gold Buildings on Campus
NCAA's First Division 1 Sustainable Athletics Program
The People Behind Our Work
Andrew Mayock
Vice Chancellor for Sustainability
Cara Carmichael
Associate Vice Chancellor for Sustainability
Kirsten Schuchman
Associate Vice Chancellor for External Partnerships
Max Boykoff
Faculty Executive Director, SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education
Jane Zelikova
Executive Director, Sustainability Research Initiative
Chris Herr
Director, Environmental Center
Josh Radoff
Director, Campus Climate Action, Sustainability and Resilience
Amy Halvorson
Director of Sustainability
Sarah Dawson
Director of Sustainability
Alex Grossman
Director of Communications for Sustainability and Engagement
Elizabeth A. Hartman
Director of External Engagement, Sustainability
Ming Posa
Executive Aide
Amy K. Dunbar-Wallis
Program Manager for Sustainability Initiatives
Hallie Nelson
Program Manager for Sustainability
Ria Gilbert
Senior Communications Specialist for Sustainability
Kelly Fleming
Associate Director, Advanced Energy & Sustainability
Industry Research Partnerships
Irina Overeem
Co-Chair, Boulder Faculty Assembly Climate Science and Education Committee
Beth Osnes-Stoedefalke
Faculty Associate Director for Student Engagement, SPIKE Center
Warren Sconiers
Faculty Associate Director for Curriculum Development, SPIKE Center
Phaedra Pezzullo
Faculty Associate Director for Faculty Engagement, SPIKE Center
Laura Burfield
Director of Operations, SPIKE Center
Toby Murdock
Director of Partnerships & Engagement, SPIKE Center
Felicia Naranjo Martinez
Executive Aide & Events Manager
Josefina Hajek-Herrera
Student Support & Engagement Program Manager
Emily Nocito
Curriculum & Sustainability Education Program Manager
Joanne Christine Marras Tate
Faculty Support & Engagement Program Manager
Talisa Lin
Marketing & Communications Specialist
Olivia Pearman
MeCCO Director of Data Management
Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey
MeCCO Director of Global Operations
Ami Nacu-Schmidt
MeCCO Infographics, Design & Outreach Lead
Kitt Urdang
SPIKE Sustainability Analyst Intern
Naomi Jepkemei
ENVS Graduate Student Assistants, Connect4Climate Max Thabiso Edkins Ambassadors program
Anna Kulikova
ENVS Graduate Student Assistants, Connect4Climate Max Thabiso Edkins Ambassadors program
Jules Immonen
Co-Chair of Environmental Board & Chair of Sustainability & AI at CU Subcommittee
Piper Rausch
Co-Chair of Environmental Board & Chair of Sustainable Development Subcommittee