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The Campus Sustainability Leadership Team convened Wednesday, April 2, to discuss the following topics:

Introducing Jane Zelikova

Jane Zelikova is the new executive director of the Strategic Research Initiative (SRI), embedded within the Research Innovation Office (RIO). Over the next few months, she will learn about the Sustainability Leadership Team's activities.

Prior to starting at CU, she was the director of the Soil Carbon Center at Colorado State University.

Onboarding Andrew Maycock

The new vice chancellor for sustainability started on March 17 and is balancing near-term external and philanthropy-related opportunities with internal trust-building efforts on campus. Key early milestones include:

• A speaking role at Colorado Climate Week, which focused on collaboration between Colorado’s academic and government leaders
• Immersing himself in Climate Action Plan materials
• Familiarizing himself with the campus’s sustainability landscape
• Connecting with near-term initiatives

He is confirmed to speak with the chancellor and Jane Zelikova in a panel at theÌýCampus Sustainability Summit.

Sustainability landscape map

Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communications Jon Leslie presented a draft of the landscape map, which outlines the internal and external resources, programs, research, operations, achievements and relationships ºÚÁÏÉçÇøÍø has related to sustainability across campus and beyond. The team discussed that many sustainability-related organizations have not yet provided input, so gathering additional feedback will be a helpful next step despite the document being well-populated.Ìý

Next steps: The SLT will show the landscape map to the Environmental Board and will share it at the Campus Sustainability Summit for further feedback. There will be an annual revision period. The map will serve as an engagement tool for advancement discussions, recruitment and engaging students and others in the campus’s sustainability-related activities.

Operational updates

Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Chris Ewing provided an update on operational sustainability projects:

• Geothermal studies: These have begun and should be complete by the end of 2025 or early spring 2026.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Policy: This is working its way through the approval process and will include guidelines and standards and an impact review.
• Decarbonization RFQ: This was released in March, with a pre-proposal meeting attended by multiple consultant teams with approximately 70 individuals in attendance. Proposals are due mid-May and CU will select a firm by mid-summer.

Upcoming sustainability events

The Sustainability Leadership Team discussed the following upcoming events:

• April 22–23:ÌýCampus Sustainability Summit
• May 9:ÌýStudent move-out
• June 5:ÌýRight Here Right Now Global Climate Summit plenary session as part of the University of Oxford-hosted event