Former U.S. Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Joins University of Colorado: 6 Things to Know

Andrew Mayock, formerly chief sustainability officer (CSO) within the Biden administration, is joining University of Colorado Boulder as vice chancellor for sustainability, effective March 10, the university said.

Here are six things to know about Mayock's new role, his previous experience and the University's sustainability strategy.

1. Recent Experience: Mayock previously was CSO for the White House, where he led the Biden administration’s sustainability efforts from 2021 until January 2025, according to his LinkedIn bio.

During Mayock's time in the White House, renewable energy sources surpassed coal and nuclear in U.S. energy generation for the first time, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Still, it's unclear if that trend will continue during President Donald Trump's second term. When Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, he attempted to cancel or claw back billions of dollars in Biden-era green spending. Some critics believe Biden's green energy policies contributed to federal government deficits and painful inflation rates, which hurt consumer wallets.

2. Earlier Experience: Earlier in his career, Mayock was director of U.S. Public Sector Operations and associate partner at McKinsey & Co. (2017-2020), according to his LinkedIn bio. He also help key posts at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget; U.S. Department of the Treasury; and Booz Allen Hamilton, his bio indicates.

3. Key Priorities: In his newly created position, Mayock will be "charged with establishing a university-wide sustainability leadership role, forming partnerships with faculty, positioning CU Boulder as a national and global sustainability leader, directly assisting local communities to make Colorado the most sustainable state in the U.S. and funding priority sustainability initiatives through internal and external sources," the university said.

4. Sustainability Courses and Campus Goals: CU Boulder offers more than 250 sustainability-related courses, and the university is pursuing these sustainability goals:

• A 50% reduction (from 2019 baseline) in Scopes 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.
• A 50% reduction in feasible Scope 3 emissions by 2030.
• A clear path to a zero emissions target for all categories by no later than 2050.

5. Upcoming Dates and Events to Watch: Near term, the university will hold its 32nd annual Campus Sustainability Summit in April 2025. And in June 2025, CU Boulder will co-host the next Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit with UN Human Rights and the University of Oxford.

6. Perspectives: In a prepared statement, University Chancellor Justin Schwartz said: “I'm thrilled to have someone of Andrew Mayock’s caliber joining our campus. In addition to a wealth of knowledge on sustainable policies and practices, he brings an understanding of how to build coalitions and lead effectively across large, complex organizations.”

Added Mayock: “I am honored to join the University of Colorado Boulder, where this new role reflects the university’s steadfast commitment to creating a sustainable future for our students, faculty, staff and community. As we continue to navigate the pressing challenges of climate change and environmental stewardship, I am excited to collaborate with this talented community to foster innovative solutions, inspire bold action and continue to lead the way in sustainability practices—locally and globally.”

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.