University of Utah Chief Sustainability Officer Exits; Interim Director Named

Chief Sustainability Officer Kerry Case departed the University of Utah in September 2024. The university named Ginger Cannon as interim director of the Sustainability Office, but a university statement did not mention whether a new CSO would be named.

In a LinkedIn post, Case said she was "profoundly grateful to the University of Utah and the staff, faculty, and students who have helped advance sustainability learning and action with me over the past four and a half years." Case plans to rest and travel through the end of 2024, and expects to discover her "next professional adventure sometime in early 2025."

University of Utah hired Case in February 2020. During her time at the university, she secured the University’s STARS Gold rating, created a new Climate Action Plan and aligned the university with the University Climate Change Coalition, the university noted.

Amid Case's departure, University of Utah Transportation Manager Ginger Cannon will serve as interim director of the Sustainability Office, the Office of Communications said. Cannon has more than 15 years of experience in sustainability, the statement noted. The Sustainability Office will now also report to Keith Diaz Moore, associate provost for Institutional Design and Strategy.

Diaz Moore emphasized the university's continued commitment to sustainability, though he did not disclose if a new CSO would be named. “I look forward to seeing the Sustainability Office continue this remarkable trajectory in education and engagement to advance our climate goals for 2040,” he said.

Chief Sustainability Officers: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.

Related: Search our chief sustainability officers database.