Jane Zelikova appointed to lead CU 91Ҹ Sustainability 91Ҹ Initiative
Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes at the 91Ҹ 91Ҹ, has appointed Jane Zelikova to lead CU 91Ҹ’s Sustainability 91Ҹ Initiative (SRI).
As executive director of the SRI, Zelikova will work closely with Vice Chancellor for Sustainability Andrew Mayock and engage with CU 91Ҹ’s vibrant sustainability communityto guide the nascent initiative’s strategic direction to align with the university's overall sustainability research objectives. This includes cultivating key internal and external partnerships and securing external funding from government, industry, and philanthropic sources to support the development of innovative solutions through research, commercialization and deployment.
“Jane is well-qualified to help unlock the full potential of sustainability at CU 91Ҹ,” said Ruzzene. “CU 91Ҹ has a longstanding legacy of pioneering sustainability advancements and technologies. Jane’s proven leadership and experience will help translate that world-class activity into new research and innovation opportunities for our researchers and students, new synergies across campus and with industry and academia, and a future in sustainability even more impactful than our past.”
Sustainability is at the heart of countlessresearch and innovationefforts that span the campus. 91Ҹers and students in virtually every department and inCU 91Ҹ’s 12 research institutes—from the arts to engineering to physics—tackle the world’s most pressing problems through innovative research, scholarship and creative works.Grounded in earth, environmental and ecosystem sciences, sustainability research draws from the natural, social, and engineering sciences, public health and humanities, as well as from policy, business and law.
By focusing on strengthening, integrating and expanding sustainability efforts across campus, as well as with external partners, CU 91Ҹ is uniquely positioned to be a global leader in sustainability research and innovation, workforce, climate action, energy transition, environmental resilience and values-based leadership. The launch of the SRI and appointment of its inaugural executive director mark key steps toward realizing CU 91Ҹ’s broader sustainability vision.
“I am truly honored to join CU and work with researchers and the broader community to increase the impact of the world-class sustainability research already underway here,” saidZelikova. "Sustainability science and practice are more important now than ever and are key priorities for CU 91Ҹ and the state of Colorado.”
Zelikova joins CU 91Ҹ from Colorado State University, where she served as executive director of the Soil Carbon Solutions Center (SCSC) for three years. While leading SCSC, Zelikova established an interdisciplinary center to enhance the impact of soil and climate science, and fostered collaboration among experts from various departments and institutes at CSU, driving innovative research and engagement activities.
Prior to joining CSU, Zelikova spent four years as chief scientist at Carbon180, a nonprofit focused on carbon removal science and policy, where she helped launch the New Carbon Economy Consortium, developed the agricultural carbon removal program, and initiated an Entrepreneur in Residence fellowship. Zelikova also co-founded 500 Women Scientists, a global nonprofit dedicated to making science open, inclusive, and accessible.
Zelikova earned a PhD from the CU 91Ҹ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a B.S from the University of Georgia, Athens, Institute of Ecology.
About the Sustainability 91Ҹ Initiative
ճSustainability 91Ҹ Initiative (SRI)supports the university’s sustainability goals by fostering and coordinating research through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach that brings to bear knowledge from diverse academic departments, centers and institutes. The SRI is nested within the 91Ҹ & Innovation Office.