Amber Garrard

Current Responsibilities: Amber is the Director of the Office of Sustainability. In this role, she provides leadership and management to the Office to advise on, and set direction for, sustainability at Yale; hold the institution accountable to its sustainability commitments; and build a culture of sustainability across the University and beyond. Amber helps builds strategic partnerships across the university to advance Yale’s sustainability initiatives and advance the goals of the Yale Sustainability Plan 2025. She currently leads the university’s climate resilience planning effort; convenes the New Haven Nature and Health Initiative; and serves on numerous committees across the institution.

Previous Positions: Amber’s past efforts have focused on advancing the social aspects of sustainability at Yale, especially around health, equity, and resilience. She has worked to strengthen partnerships with the City of New Haven on these topics and ensured high-level visibility of Yale’s sustainability initiatives and accomplishments, managing broad stakeholder engagement and participation in Yale’s sustainability efforts.

Prior to joining the Yale community Amber directed the Sustainability Office at Green Mountain College. During her tenure, Green Mountain was twice recognized as one of the greenest colleges in the nation by Sierra magazine and became the second college in the country to achieve climate neutrality.

Academic/Professional Credentials and Appointments: Amber received an M.A. in Sustainable Development from the SIT Graduate Institute and holds a B.A. from the University of Portland.