Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff Members,

I write to share the news that Assistant Vice President for Sustainability & Strategic Initiatives Elizabeth Drake is leaving Swarthmore to become the new chief sustainability officer at Binghamton University, an opportunity that will bring her closer to her home and family in upstate New York. In her new role, she will be responsible for advancing climate action, sustainability, and environmental stewardship across all aspects of the university. 

Elizabeth joined the College as our climate action manager in 2019. She was named interim director of sustainability in 2021 and appointed fully to the role in 2022. Two years later, Elizabeth was named the College’s first assistant vice president for sustainability & strategic initiatives. Since then, she has worked to identify and prioritize areas for institutional sustainability efforts and helped guide the implementation of the College’s strategic plan, Swarthmore Forward.  

In her time at the College, Elizabeth worked collaboratively with individuals and departments across campus to advance sustainability and climate action in myriad ways. She played an instrumental role in establishing and championing the College’s transformative energy plan, To Zero By Thirty-Five, and in helping position Swarthmore as a national leader in sustainability. Elizabeth’s leadership has always been rooted in the strong relationships she developed with students, faculty, and staff members across campus, particularly through the President's Sustainability Research Fellowship (PSRF) program. As director of the PSRF program and a mentor to multiple cohorts of fellows, Elizabeth has helped students channel their passion for climate justice and sustainability advocacy into their academic and professional journeys within and beyond the College.

Elizabeth’s last day is August 31. As we begin the new academic year, I am pleased to share that John Watts Roberts ’39 and Jane Martin Roberts ’39 Professor of Mathematics Aimee Johnson has accepted my invitation to help lead the implementation of Swarthmore Forward. In addition, Associate Director of Sustainability Clare Hyre will serve as interim director of sustainability until we conduct a national search for Elizabeth’s successor. My thanks to both Aimee and Clare for agreeing to serve in these roles. I look forward to working with both of them this academic year as we advance this important work. 

I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to Elizabeth for her thoughtful leadership, passionate advocacy, and caring professionalism. Over a period of ongoing change and construction on campus, Elizabeth has encouraged our community not simply to understand, but also to embrace how this work helps Swarthmore live into its mission as a leader in sustainability. Her efforts have been a vital part of bringing Swarthmore into this new era, and it has been a privilege to work with her these last few years. Please join me in thanking Elizabeth for her many contributions to the College and in wishing her and her family all the best ahead.

Sincerely,

President Val Smith
Roy J. and Linda G. Shanker Presidential Chair