The executive director of sustainability, Dr. Aurora Sharrard, has been awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Innovation in Advancing Administrative and Operational Efficiency. The annual award highlights faculty and staff recognized by the chancellor for their outstanding contributions in the fields of innovation and diversity.
Dr. Sharrard joined the University of Pittsburgh in 2018 upon the formation of the Office of Sustainability. Under her leadership, the office and cross-campus sustainability team has implemented multiple initiatives to create a more sustainable campus and foster a culture of sustainability throughout the University.
In the time since Sharrard took the helm, Pitt has made a commitment to carbon neutrality by 2037 and published the first Pitt Climate Action Plan, has partnered with Vesper Energy on the largest solar development project in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and received local, national, and global sustainability recognitions, including the recent Platinum Sustainable Workplace certification —just to name a few accomplishments.
Her guidance and tenacity has been invaluable towards manifesting the steps to transform Pitt not only into a sustainable campus, but a global sustainability leader.