Patrick McKee earned his BS in Biology from Mount Aloysius College and MS in Environmental Science and Management from Duquesne University where he was trained in ecotoxicology, environmental management, and sustainability planning. During his graduate tenure, he also compiled Duquesne’s campus greenhouse gas inventory and report as a graduate assistant.
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 role as Sustainability Manager at Eastern Kentucky University resulted in the creation of a strategic sustainability plan for the University, establishing a goal for achieving carbon neutrality and the subsequent development of a climate action and resilience plan. During this time, he also established several campus and community outreach programs and events that enhanced sustainability literacy and awareness and led projects that improved recycling and energy efficiency. He also instructed introductory level sustainability courses as an adjunct faculty member.
Mr. McKee joined UConn’s Office of Sustainability in 2018 as the Sustainability Program Manager and was appointed Interim Director in December 2023. His work at UConn prioritizes students, and centers around the development, planning, and execution of experiential learning programs that build upon their academic experiences at the university. Additionally, he works alongside university leadership, faculty, and staff members to steer sustainability initiatives in alignment with the University’s strategic priorities, international frameworks for campus sustainability, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. McKee provides supervisory leadership to the OS’s and high-achieving professional and student intern staff and serves as co-lead of the UConn@COP Fellowship Program which enables student participation in the UN COP Climate Change Conference each year in a different international host city.