Kelley Versocki
Director, Office of Sustainability at Lehigh University
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Kelley Versocki serves as the Director of the Office of Sustainability at Lehigh University, where she leads the strategic direction of campus-wide sustainability initiatives. She oversees the Office’s professional staff and a team of student change-makers who champion sustainability across campus through data, communications, and outreach.
She oversees Lehigh’s sustainability assessment frameworks, translating complex metrics into actionable insights for senior leadership to guide strategic decision-making. Partnering with university leadership, faculty, and operational teams, Kelley aligns sustainability goals with Lehigh’s broader strategic vision to drive meaningful institutional progress.
Blending a background in sociology with 15 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and communications, Kelley brings a unique, human-centered approach to institutional strategy. Through this dual focus on strategy and storytelling, Kelley ensures that campus sustainability initiatives are high-impact, measurable, inclusive, and deeply embedded in the fabric of the university community.
From Static Goals to a Living Roadmap: Reimagining Sustainability Strategies in Today’s Climate
One of today’s biggest challenges for higher ed professionals is ensuring long-term strategies are agile enough to navigate today’s ever-evolving higher ed environment. Many institutions launch ambitious sustainability and climate goals only to see them stall when faced with leadership transitions, budget shifts, evolving campus priorities, and changing external climates.
At Lehigh University, we realized our rigid 2030 roadmap, drafted just five years ago, was no longer equipped to navigate the dynamic landscape of modern higher education. We didn't just update the plan; we disrupted the process and prioritized adaptability and resilience over a rigid structure.
Key topics we will cover:
- The Agility Framework: How to move beyond prescriptive targets toward a system of continuous refinement and adaptation.
- Informed Data: Optimizing data sharing, updating collection methodologies, and creating dedicated roles that help drive strategic insights.
- Strategic Alignment: Creating strategic alignment between sustainability goals and initiatives, broader university plans, and smaller departmental goals.
- Leadership Buy-In: How to intentionally partner data analysis with strategic messaging to secure executive buy-in and stakeholder engagement.
- Silo-Busting & Stakeholder Ownership: Practical lessons on navigating friction and increasing collaboration.
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