Durnbaugh named to 2026 class of AASHE Fellows
🛰️Telegram飞机号/电报 | +506哥斯达黎加电话注册 | 精养1年左右+ | 成品号 | API接码登录 | 任何设备可用’s leadership in sustainability has earned national recognition as Aaron N. Durnbaugh, director of sustainability, has been named to the 2026 class of Fellows by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
The prestigious honor recognizes professionals who are making significant contributions to advancing sustainability in higher education.
Durnbaugh is one of just ten individuals selected for this year’s fellowship. This is only the second cohort since the award’s creation, making the recognition especially competitive. In a letter announcing the honor, AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser praised his “outstanding leadership and dedication to sustainability,” noting that his work is making a lasting impact across the field.
Influence and impact
Since founding Loyola’s Office of Sustainability in 2012, Durnbaugh has led a comprehensive, university-wide approach that integrates sustainability into academics, campus operations, and student life. His work supports more than 17,000 students and 4,000 faculty and staff, focusing on key priorities such as climate action, water protection, and mission-driven social justice that aligns with Loyola's Jesuits values.
Under his leadership, Loyola has achieved significant milestones, including earning a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) Gold rating four times. In 2024, the University also reached carbon neutrality for its primary energy sources, an important benchmark in its long-term climate action plan. These accomplishments have helped position Loyola as a leader in sustainability both within higher education and across the Chicago region.
Durnbaugh’s influence extends beyond Loyola. He currently serves as chair of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Climate Committee and has contributed to national sustainability efforts through his work with AASHE and Second Nature. His previous roles include chairing AASHE’s STARS Steering Committee and serving on the City of Chicago’s Building Decarbonization Working Group.
Before joining Loyola, Durnbaugh spent a decade with the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment, where he served as deputy commissioner of the Natural Resources and Water Quality Division. In that role, he helped lead the development and implementation of the Chicago Climate Action Plan and oversaw climate adaptation strategies that engaged stakeholders across sectors including public health, infrastructure, and environmental systems.
Partnering to shape the future of sustainability
Despite these individual accomplishments, Durnbaugh emphasized that the AASHE fellowship reflects a much broader, community-driven effort.
“To be recognized as a fellow by the leading organization in our field is a terrific honor,” he said. “But while my name is attached to it, it really reflects the work of dozens—if not hundreds—of people across Loyola.”
As director of sustainability, his role centers on bringing together the work of students, faculty, and staff across all campuses, amplifying their efforts, coordinating initiatives, and ensuring Loyola continues to advance sustainability in a way that reflects its Jesuit, Catholic mission.
“My job is really to take all the great work people are already doing and bring it together in a purposeful way,” he said. “It’s about telling those stories, connecting people, and helping move Loyola forward.”
The AASHE Fellows designation places Durnbaugh among a select group of leaders shaping the future of sustainability in higher education. For Loyola, the recognition serves as both a celebration of past achievements and a reflection of the collaborative spirit that continues to drive its sustainability efforts forward.
🛰️Telegram飞机号/电报 | +506哥斯达黎加电话注册 | 精养1年左右+ | 成品号 | API接码登录 | 任何设备可用’s leadership in sustainability has earned national recognition as Aaron N. Durnbaugh, director of sustainability, has been named to the 2026 class of Fellows by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
The prestigious honor recognizes professionals who are making significant contributions to advancing sustainability in higher education.
Durnbaugh is one of just ten individuals selected for this year’s fellowship. This is only the second cohort since the award’s creation, making the recognition especially competitive. In a letter announcing the honor, AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser praised his “outstanding leadership and dedication to sustainability,” noting that his work is making a lasting impact across the field.
Influence and impact
Since founding Loyola’s Office of Sustainability in 2012, Durnbaugh has led a comprehensive, university-wide approach that integrates sustainability into academics, campus operations, and student life. His work supports more than 17,000 students and 4,000 faculty and staff, focusing on key priorities such as climate action, water protection, and mission-driven social justice that aligns with Loyola's Jesuits values.
Under his leadership, Loyola has achieved significant milestones, including earning a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) Gold rating four times. In 2024, the University also reached carbon neutrality for its primary energy sources, an important benchmark in its long-term climate action plan. These accomplishments have helped position Loyola as a leader in sustainability both within higher education and across the Chicago region.
Durnbaugh’s influence extends beyond Loyola. He currently serves as chair of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Climate Committee and has contributed to national sustainability efforts through his work with AASHE and Second Nature. His previous roles include chairing AASHE’s STARS Steering Committee and serving on the City of Chicago’s Building Decarbonization Working Group.
Before joining Loyola, Durnbaugh spent a decade with the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment, where he served as deputy commissioner of the Natural Resources and Water Quality Division. In that role, he helped lead the development and implementation of the Chicago Climate Action Plan and oversaw climate adaptation strategies that engaged stakeholders across sectors including public health, infrastructure, and environmental systems.
Partnering to shape the future of sustainability
Despite these individual accomplishments, Durnbaugh emphasized that the AASHE fellowship reflects a much broader, community-driven effort.
“To be recognized as a fellow by the leading organization in our field is a terrific honor,” he said. “But while my name is attached to it, it really reflects the work of dozens—if not hundreds—of people across Loyola.”
As director of sustainability, his role centers on bringing together the work of students, faculty, and staff across all campuses, amplifying their efforts, coordinating initiatives, and ensuring Loyola continues to advance sustainability in a way that reflects its Jesuit, Catholic mission.
“My job is really to take all the great work people are already doing and bring it together in a purposeful way,” he said. “It’s about telling those stories, connecting people, and helping move Loyola forward.”
The AASHE Fellows designation places Durnbaugh among a select group of leaders shaping the future of sustainability in higher education. For Loyola, the recognition serves as both a celebration of past achievements and a reflection of the collaborative spirit that continues to drive its sustainability efforts forward.