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Keisha Payson

Affiliation: Sustainability
Director of Sustainability
Keisha Payson is the Director of Sustainability for ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College, a position she has been guiding since the summer of 2001. Over the years Payson has focused on both engaging faculty, staff,and students in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s sustainability efforts as well as ensuring that ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ integrates sustainable practices and policies in operations across campus. 

Initiatives she has implemented or overseen include significant waste reduction efforts during student move-out, food waste diversion programs, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s transition to single-stream recycling, alternative transportation programming, developing one of the first EcoRep programs in the country, and focusing on efforts to reduce the college’s greenhouse gas emissions. Payson chairs ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s Sustainability Implementation Committee which oversaw the achievement of carbon neutrality in 2018 and is now engaged in the next phase of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s climate goals, aiming to become a fossil fuel free campus by 2042.  She is ever inspired by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s bright and passionate students who continually advocate for a more sustainable future.  She enjoys sharing with them the planning and operational details and decision-making processes that inform ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s real world sustainability efforts. Payson appreciates working as part of a Facilities Management team dedicated to sustainability as well as collaborating with other departments on campus towards ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s broader sustainability efforts.

Keisha received a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Studies as well as a master’s degree in Community Planning and Development, both from the University of Southern Maine. She is also a Senior Fellow in the Environmental Leadership Program.