Julie Newman, Ph.D. was hired as the first Director of the Office of Sustainability at Yale University. She came to Yale from the University of New Hampshire, Office of Sustainability Programs (OSP) where she assisted with the development of the program since its inception in 1997.  Prior to her work with the OSP she worked for University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF) while a graduate student at Tufts University.  Julie’s fifteen years of experience in the field of sustainable development from community based experience overseas to university campuses has enabled her to build bridges with students, staff, faculty and administrators to facilitate the vision of a sustainable campus for Yale.  Julie also holds a lecturer appointment with the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. During the spring semester Julie teaches an undergraduate course entitled – Sustainability: From theory to practice in institutions.

In 2004 Julie co-founded the Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium, to advance education and action for sustainable development on university campuses in the northeast and maritime region.  Julie also co-coordinates a sustainability working group of the International Alliance of Research Universities. In addition, Julie is a co-editor of the new Sustainability: Journal of Record.  Her research has focused on the role of decision-making processes and organizational behavior in institutionalizing sustainability into higher education.

Julie’s introduction to sustainable development was as an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan while working on water quality issues in inner-city Detroit and later in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Israel and Australia.  She pursued her interest in this field by working as an environmental management volunteer with the Peace Corps in Guatemala.  Since her return from Guatemala she has had the opportunity to work with colleagues around the world on issues of sustainability and institutional change.

Julie holds a BS in Natural Resource Policy and Management from the University of Michigan; an MS in Environmental Policy and Biology from Tufts University; and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from the University of New Hampshire.