Patrick McKee
Senior Sustainability Program Manager
Patrick McKee was hired by the OS in 2018 to serve as UConn’s Sustainability Program Manager. Reporting to the Director, Patrick works to develop, plan, and administer programs, initiatives and events that align with the University’s strategic sustainability goal areas. He also supervises and provides mentorship to the OS’s high-achieving student intern staff.
Patrick’s ten years of career experience in the sustainability field spans both the private and public sectors including time at a Fortune 250 company, a global manufacturer, and at two large public universities. His previous stint as Sustainability Manager at Eastern Kentucky University resulted in the creation of strategic sustainability goals at the University, establishment of a goal for achieving carbon neutrality, and the subsequent development of a climate action and resilience plan. Having founded the Office of Sustainability at EKU, he was tasked with leading the integration of sustainability into the threadwork of university decision-making, culminating with the University earning a STARS Bronze rating after just two years. During this time, he also established several campus and community outreach events and led projects to both improve recycling and energy efficiency. He also managed up to six student employees per semester, and instructed ENV200: The Global Sustainable Future as an adjunct faculty member.
Prior to working at Eastern Kentucky University, Patrick served as a Sustainability Analyst with Legrand, North America at its West Hartford headquarters. While at Legrand, he helped spearhead operations and social sustainability initiatives including a highly successful energy savings competition known as the “Legrand Energy Marathon” and the ”Better Communities” corporate volunteer program.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, PA, in 2011 and received his Master of Science degree in environmental science and management from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA in 2013.
| patrick.mckee@uconn.edu | |
| Phone | (860) 486-9414 |
Betsy Mortensen
Communication, Outreach, and Education Coordinator
Betsy was hired by the OS in 2022 and serves as UConn’s Sustainability Communications, Outreach, and Education Coordinator. Reporting to the Director, Betsy develops and leads in-person and virtual outreach and engagement events as well as other initiatives for the Office of Sustainability. She is responsible for enhanced visibility of the OS as well as for managing all of its social media, digital, and print communications.
| betsy.mortensen@uconn.edu | |
| Phone | (860)-486-5446 |
Cherie Taylor
Administrative Coordinator
Cherie is the Administrative Coordinator for the Office of Sustainability (OS). She focuses on administratively supporting the Director, managing daily office operations, record keeping and budgeting, serving as the OS Compliance webmaster, event planning and scheduling, as well as in office supervision of 9-12 student interns. She supports both the Compliance and Sustainability offices, as well as her fellow employees with her considerable knowledge of University systems, policies and procedures.
Cherie joined the University in August 1998 as the Office Manager for Central Stores. Coming to UConn from Manchester Memorial Hospital (ECHN) with a ten year background as a Buyer in Purchasing and with extensive previous inventory experience, this position was the perfect transitional fit. In June 2001. Cherie accepted a new position with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) as their Administrative Coordinator. She was responsible for management of the daily operations of the main office, including supervision of staff and students. As well as being the assistant to the Department Head she also provided support services for over twenty faculty members, sixty-plus graduate students and the undergraduate students in the CEE program. In August 2004 Cherie accepted a shared position as an Administrative Specialist II with the Architectural & Engineering Services (AES) and the Office of Environmental Policy. In this half time role within each department, she provided various administrative, personnel, and fiscal support services to both Directors. In July 2006 Cherie accepted a full time position as the Administrative Coordinator for the Office of Environmental Policy (now Office of Sustainability) where she currently enjoys diverse and challenging opportunities afforded by the OS and the University of Connecticut for continued personal and professional growth.
| cherie.taylor@uconn.edu | |
| Phone | N/A |