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CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz continues taking action to further establish CU Boulder as a global sustainability leader, including a number of recent strategic moves aimed at helping accelerate the campus’s sustainability initiatives.

New vice chancellor for sustainability

Schwartz announced Sept. 19 that a national search has launched for the university’s new vice chancellor for sustainability, and that Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Massimo Ruzzene will chair the search committee. The role is designed to spearhead the university's efforts to integrate academic and operational sustainability initiatives, and the university’s goal is to have a final candidate on board by spring 2025. 

The search for the vice chancellor for sustainability will be conducted by the international executive search firm, , and those with nominations or interest in the role are encouraged to contact the firm The process will be led by Abby Gorman, a leader within the Social Impact and Global Sustainability Practices specializing in executive searches for sustainability-focused roles, and Jackie Zavitz, who leads the Higher Education Practice. The search committee, under Ruzzene’s guidance, will work closely with the firm to select a leader who can drive forward the university's commitment to sustainability.

“In our new vice chancellor for sustainability, we’re looking for someone whose leadership and vision will advance our campus commitment to a more sustainable future,” Schwartz said. “Their expertise and passion for environmental stewardship will drive innovative initiatives, ensuring that sustainability is not just a goal but a cornerstone of our university's identity.”

In July, Schwartz announced the creation of the new position. The new vice chancellor will lead efforts to meet CU Boulder’s climate action goals while also educating the next generation of sustainability leaders. The vice chancellor will oversee the university's comprehensive strategic planning, implementation and tracking of sustainability goals, and also lead fundraising efforts. 

“This position will be instrumental in guiding decision-making across the university, ensuring every choice we make aligns with our commitment to climate action and sustainability,” Schwartz said. “They will oversee internal sustainability initiatives while also fostering national and global partnerships, especially with regard to research, to meet the goals outlined in our 2024 Climate Action Plan.”

Campus constituents are invited to .

New executive director role to accelerate sustainability research

In a strategic effort to advance research in sustainability and resilience across the university, the vice chancellor for Research & Innovation (RIO) announced the search for an executive director to lead the establishment of a new Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI).

The executive director will play a critical role in expanding CU Boulder’s sustainability research portfolio and guiding the strategic direction of the SRI. This new position will report directly to the vice chancellor for RIO and will maintain a close, dotted-line relationship with the new vice chancellor for sustainability.

Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit

The University of Oxford will host the next Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit with UN Human Rights and co-host universities around the world, including CU Boulder, in June 2025. In December 2022, CU Boulder held the inaugural summit, which gathered some of the world's foremost human rights, scientific, political, educational, cultural and industry leaders to outline and commit to specific actions addressing the harmful effects of climate change on human rights.

Strategic Resources and Support organization updates

The Strategic Resources and Support division, under the direction of COO Pat O’Rourke, has also made recent updates to better align people and operations in support of university goals and the new campus structure. These included: 

• The Office of Infrastructure & Sustainability has become Infrastructure and Resilience (I&R).
• Chief Sustainability Officer Heidi VanGenderen has taken on a new role as senior advisor for sustainability and climate, reporting to Deputy Chief Operating Officer Jennifer McDuffie
• I&R will be hiring a new director of sustainable operations who will help I&R continue to infuse sustainability across its full portfolio of work in coordination with the new vice chancellor for sustainability. That job posting will be coming soon.

Continued action

In addition to the announcement of the new sustainability roles, CU Boulder has taken numerous recent actions to advance its robust climate goals:

• An off-site solar agreement with Denver-based Pivot Energy 
• Two grants to conduct feasibility studies on geothermal energy
• The construction of an East Campus solar array
• Energy efficiency projects to upgrade 18 campus buildings
• Participation in a national clean technology innovation program