Julie
Newman, PhD
Lecturer, MIT Urban Studies & Planning
One of the most experienced leaders in higher education sustainability. Dr. Julie Newman became MIT's first Director of Sustainability in 2013, after founding Yale University's Office of Sustainability and helping launch one of the first campus sustainability offices in the United States at the University of New Hampshire.
Dr. Julie Newman is one of the most recognised leaders in institutional sustainability, with more than two decades of experience designing strategies that connect academia, operations, and society.
Her research focuses on the intersection between decision-making processes and organisational behaviour in institutionalising sustainability into higher education. At MIT, her work has centred on how energy, water, food, and mobility systems can be designed in a campus-city partnership model, strengthening MIT's partnerships with the cities of Cambridge and Boston.
Her path into the field began abroad: in 1995 she returned from Guatemala, where she served as an environmental management Peace Corps volunteer, and entered graduate school to study sustainable development when it was still a new concept.
She lectures and consults for universities nationally and internationally, serves on a range of boards and advisory committees, and has contributed to edited books and peer-reviewed journals. Her philosophy is grounded in systems thinking, community partnerships, and the belief that universities are living laboratories for sustainability innovation.
Building MIT's Sustainability Programme from the Ground Up
Newman took up the newly created post in mid-August 2013, charged with launching an Office of Sustainability to act as a catalyst for sustainable approaches across campus and beyond.
She treats the campus as a test bed for sustainability, and co-taught the MIT course "Solving for Carbon Neutrality at MIT." Her office hosts Sustainability Connect, MIT's annual forum on progress towards the Institute's climate commitments.
At Sustainability Connect 2025 she moderated "Power in Partnership," bringing together climate leaders from the City of Cambridge, City of Boston, EPA New England, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
From the Peace Corps to MIT
Leadership Roles
Director of Sustainability
MIT's first Director of Sustainability, founding the MIT Office of Sustainability. Also a Lecturer in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning.
Founding Director, Office of Sustainability
Recruited to found Yale's Office of Sustainability. Held a lecturer appointment at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, teaching the undergraduate course "Sustainability: From Theory to Practice in Institutions."
Office of Sustainability Programs
Helped establish UNH's sustainability office from its inception, one of the first offices of sustainability in the United States.
Early Career & Networks
Co-founder
Advances education and action for sustainable development on university campuses in the northeast and maritime region.
Graduate Assistant
Worked with ULSF while in graduate school, before joining the University of New Hampshire.
Environmental Management Volunteer
Served in Guatemala before returning to study sustainable development in graduate school.
Connecting Universities, Cities, and Policymakers Worldwide
Distinguished Visitor, The Queen's College, Oxford
Spent the third week of Trinity Term 2024 at the College, carrying out an extensive Listening Programme with students, staff, and Fellows. The results were reported to the College's Carbon Committee.
International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN)
An inaugural member of ISCN, originally representing Yale University. ISCN provides an international forum for higher education institutions to share best practice on sustainable campus operations, research, and teaching.
Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium
A regional network of university sustainability professionals across the northeast and maritime region that remains active today.
Founding Advisor, BlueCities Sustainability Network
Helps design frameworks for Earth5R's global initiative on restoring rivers and urban ecosystems.
Dr. Newman on Sustainability Leadership
MIT & Earth5R's Sustainable Journey: In Conversation with Saurabh Gupta
Dr. Newman and Earth5R founder Saurabh Gupta on sustainability leadership at MIT. (Earth5R)
Watch on YouTube ↗
Sustainability: Julie Newman
A talk on sustainability at MIT, presented through MIT Corporate Relations. (MIT Corporate Relations)
Watch on YouTube ↗
SustainabilityConnect 2015: Welcoming Remarks
Opening remarks at the MIT Office of Sustainability's SustainabilityConnect 2015. (MIT Office of Sustainability)
Watch on YouTube ↗Her Work, in the Words of the Institutions
MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning
Her faculty profile as Lecturer of Environmental Planning and Sustainability.
Visit MIT DUSP ↗New Position Aims to Strengthen MIT's Sustainability
MIT's announcement of its first Director of Sustainability.
Read on MIT ↗Sustainability Connect 2025
MIT's annual forum on climate action, opened and moderated by Dr. Newman.
Read on MIT ↗Distinguished Visitor Profile
Her profile and 2024 Listening Programme at The Queen's College.
Visit Queen's College ↗Profiled on Advancing Sustainability Leadership
ISCN's profile of her career and ideas for sustainability in higher education.
Read on MIT ↗Exploring the Next Frontier of Sustainability
The full conversation with Saurabh Gupta in Earth5R's Sustainable Futures podcast series.
Read on Earth5R ↗
BlueCities Sustainability Network
Dr. Newman serves as Founding Advisor to the BlueCities Sustainability Network by Earth5R, a global initiative focused on restoring rivers and urban ecosystems.
In this role, she helps design frameworks that blend rigorous academic thinking with practical, scalable solutions for cities around the world.
About Dr. Julie Newman
Who is Dr. Julie Newman?
Dr. Julie Newman is MIT's first Director of Sustainability, a role she took up in August 2013 to launch the MIT Office of Sustainability, and a Lecturer in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning. She was previously the founding Director of Yale University's Office of Sustainability and helped launch the University of New Hampshire's sustainability office in 1997. She is the Founding Advisor to Earth5R's BlueCities Sustainability Network.
What is Dr. Julie Newman's educational background?
She holds a BS in Natural Resource Policy and Management from the University of Michigan, an MS in Environmental Policy and Biology from Tufts University, and a PhD in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from the University of New Hampshire.
What did Dr. Julie Newman do at Yale University?
In 2004 she was recruited as the founding Director of Yale's Office of Sustainability, which she led for nine years. She also held a lecturer appointment at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, teaching the undergraduate course Sustainability: From Theory to Practice in Institutions.
What is Dr. Julie Newman's connection to Oxford?
She was a Distinguished Visitor at The Queen's College, Oxford, spending the third week of Trinity Term 2024 at the College, where she carried out a Listening Programme with students, staff, and Fellows whose results were reported to the College's Carbon Committee.
What is Dr. Julie Newman's role at Earth5R?
She is the Founding Advisor to the BlueCities Sustainability Network by Earth5R, a global initiative focused on restoring rivers and urban ecosystems, where she helps design frameworks that combine academic rigour with practical, scalable solutions for cities.