Inaugural Vice Provost for Planetary Solutions

Dear Colleagues, 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Julie Beth Zimmerman as inaugural vice provost for planetary solutions, effective September 1. In this role, Julie—who is jointly appointed in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science and the School of the Environment—will provide strategic leadership for the cross-university Planetary Solutions Project. Through a broad range of initiatives that include working in collaborative partnership with university leaders, faculty, students, and staff, Julie will focus Yale’s efforts on developing and implementing integrative solutions to the large planetary threats we face. She will also build alliances with non-profit organizations, alumni, industry partners, and donors to catalyze innovative actions for positive impact in addressing global challenges.  

Julie currently serves as senior associate dean for academic affairs at the School of the Environment. She will be stepping down from this role in order to assume her responsibilities as vice provost. Julie has been a member of the Yale community for over fifteen years and brings to her new role a combination of exceptional scholarly and administrative experience. Her research focuses on innovations in sustainable technologies and the policies necessary to advance them. Her thought leadership is reflected in the Principles of Green Engineering, which were first published in 2003 and guide the sustainable design of products and processes in academia and industry. She has served as the deputy director for the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale and has held leadership positions in both national and international research consortia. In addition, Julie teaches in the Yale School of Management’s Executive Education program on sustainability and leadership.  
 
Throughout her career, Julie has consulted for a wide range of organizations and institutions, including Fortune 500 companies and state and international organizations, providing guidance on sustainability, green chemistry, and green engineering. Beyond her roles at Yale, Julie is the editor-in-chief of Environmental Science & Technology, the most highly cited journal in the fields of environmental science and engineering.   
 
This appointment signals an important acceleration and elevation of Yale’s efforts to develop transformative solutions to complex environmental challenges. I am thankful to Julie for her willingness to guide the Planetary Solutions Project into the future and capitalize on the initial momentum that the project’s staff and community have generated. 
  
Please join me in welcoming Julie to this new role.  
  
Sincerely, 
  
Scott Strobel 
Provost