Round of Applause: Stephen Ellis of BU Campus Planning & Operations Wins Sustainability Award
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education honors his decade of leadership
Round of Applause: Stephen Ellis of BU Campus Planning & Operations Wins Sustainability Award
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education honors his decade of leadership
Awardee
Stephen Ellis
BU affiliation
Associate director, asset strategy and resilience, Campus Planning & Operations (CPO)
What is the honor you received?
I have received the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Fellows Award. The award recognizes mid-career individuals who are making significant contributions to advancing sustainability in higher education.
Why did you receive the honor?
I received this award in recognition of my decade-long career, contributions, and commitment to advancing sustainability in higher education through programs, projects, and presentations, as well as service and mentorship.
Why is it meaningful to you?
Looking at the steps I have taken towards becoming a change agent, I am proud of the work I have done at BU, in Boston, and within sustainability in higher ed. This award highlights the importance of climate action at BU as we advance towards our goal of net carbon neutrality by 2040, as stated in the University’s Climate Action Plan, and our integrity when reporting sustainability performance through frameworks like the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). In addition, I’m an expert in residence, supporting sustainability data science projects for the CDS Duan Family Spark! Initiative, and this award highlights the work of students who are taking innovative approaches to solving real-world challenges. Lastly, outside BU, the city of Boston’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) review board, of which I am a member, is also highlighted for its work to ensure that environmental justice communities benefit from BERDO decarbonization efforts.
What’s next for you?
As climate action and environmental policies are under heavy scrutiny, this award reminds my peers and me to remain firm in our commitments and values. In my role within Campus Planning & Operations, this recognition strengthens my work in aligning long‑term asset planning, capital renewal, and infrastructure resilience with the University’s Climate Action Plan, which, in turn, helps translate sustainability goals into practical, measurable actions across BU’s physical assets. Beyond that, I will continue to support our students in their exposure to real-world sustainability data challenges and aid in the city’s implementation to equitably decarbonize Boston’s large buildings.