Austin is the Sustainability Analyst in the University of Pennsylvania Sustainability Office. Austin serves as the primary data and metrics analyst by collecting and reporting university sustainability performance metrics. He oversees the Green Office Certification program, Green Labs, ULT Freezer Rebate Program, the Integrating Sustainability across the Curriculum (ISAC) program, and the Civic Sustainability Fellows (CSF). Austin is also responsible for submitting University sustainability data to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), and the City of Philadelphia. 

Previously, Austin worked for a local recycling and waste company, consulting on sustainability and landfill diversion projects. There, he was responsible for supplier emissions reporting as well as identifying new zero waste strategies tailored to each clients’ operations. Prior to that, he worked at the University of South Carolina as their Sustainability Coordinator where he lead the completion and submittal of the university’s comprehensive sustainability report (AASHE’s STARS); managed the office’s financial operations; tracked progress on university sustainability goals; and supervised the Sustainable Carolina Garden program. During his time at USC, he was selected to participate in the Obama Foundation’s inaugural Community Leadership Corp where he started an initiative in Columbia, SC providing Latinx and undocumented high school students and their parents with resources to pursue a higher education after graduating high school. Austin holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of South Carolina and is a LEED Green Associate. Austin has lived in Philadelphia since 2020 and in his free time you will likely find him hiking; camping; kayaking; with his two rescue dogs, Lizzie and Willow, in tow.

Noah is the Sustainability Manager in the University of Pennsylvania's Sustainability Office. He implements projects in support of the Climate and Sustainability Action Plan across a broad spectrum of sustainability topics such as decarbonization, GHG reporting, stormwater management, procurement, transportation, and waste. Noah also helps oversee the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee, manages the Student Eco-Reps program and School & Center Sustainability Coordinators group, and assists in the production of many of the Sustainability Office's outreach events. 

Previously, Noah worked as the Membership Director for the Philadelphia-based Energy Co-op where he managed all campaigns and analyses pertaining to the cooperative’s sales, customer and business development; ran an internship program; and served as a subject matter expert for renewable energy financing, campus sustainability planning, and emerging renewable power technologies. Previous to his time at The Energy Co-op, Noah worked for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) as their Membership Development Manager. In this role, Noah provided direct technical consultation to academic member institutions to further their sustainability and decarbonization goals and supported the annual AASHE international sustainability conference. He received his Master of City Planning degree from the Stuart Weitzman School of Design and his Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Villanova University. Noah lives in Philadelphia and has served on the Board of Directors and Zoning Committee of his neighborhood civic group, the Queen Village Neighbors Association.

Nina Morris is the Sustainability Director at the University of Pennsylvania, where she leads the Penn Sustainability Office and drives climate and sustainability action across campus. She oversees the development, implementation, reporting, and communication of Penn’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan (CSAP). Nina chairs the Ivy+ Sustainability Collaborative Offset Working Group and advances Penn’s carbon offset purchases for air travel. She also directs external sustainability reporting, ensuring compliance and promoting transparency in achieving Penn's climate and sustainability goals. Through cross-campus and regional partnerships, Nina fosters innovation and systemic change, positioning Penn as a leader in sustainability. Prior to joining Penn, Nina spent a decade at the University of Virginia’s Office for Sustainability, where she led outreach programs and managed the communications team. She holds a Master of Science in Environmental Design from Temple University and a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University.

At a Glance

Purpose: Penn’s PPA moves the University significantly closer to meeting its commitment of a 100% carbon neutral campus by 2042. 

Completed: December 2023 

Location: Central Pennsylvania 

Solar Facilities Size: 220 megawatts 

Solar Energy Production: Approximately 420,000 MWh, roughly equivalent to 70% of the total electricity demand of the academic campus and the University of Pennsylvania Health System. 

Related Initiatives: Climate and Energy

Penn’s vision for a sustainable future stretches far into the past. Penn has long championed a clear vision for environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Our commitment to sustainability can be traced back to key milestones, such as having the first Ivy League President sign the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007 and developing our first climate action plan in 2009.

This dedication follows through to today. We continue to forge new paths by actively engaging with other universities and institutions, fostering collaborations that amplify our collective impact. As we move forward, our goals remain clear and transparent, guided by the CSAP.