Brian Kelley

About Brian Kelley

I am a Sustainability Specialist with over four years of professional experience advancing zero-waste systems, circular economy initiatives, and institutional sustainability programs within higher education. I currently lead sustainability operations at Christopher Newport University, a public university in Virginia, where I oversee campus-wide waste reduction and reusable systems, sustainability data collection and reporting, and cross-departmental coordination. I serve as Chair of the University Sustainability Committee and led the institution’s first AASHE STARS submission, earning a Bronze rating. My work is centered on implementation and measurable outcomes, including:• Leading the campus-wide transition to a 100% reusable dining container system, resulting in verified container returns and a 96% return rate over 2.5 years through QR-code tracking• Developing and supporting a striving-for-zero-waste football initiative that achieved a game-high 86% diversion rate through recycling and compost operations I bring hands-on experience in sustainability program development, waste audits, stakeholder engagement, vendor and RFP evaluation, data analysis, and public outreach. I also bring previous internship experience supporting large-scale event sustainability operations at the University of Cincinnati and The Ohio State University. I stay current on best practices and emerging trends by regularly engaging with the sustainability community through conferences and professional networks, including AASHE and the Green Sports Alliance. I stay current on best practices and emerging trends by regularly engaging with the sustainability community through conferences and professional networks, including AASHE and the Green Sports Alliance. My approach to sustainability is practical and systems-focused, grounded in the belief that durable environmental progress comes from well-designed programs, reliable data, and collaboration across operations, vendors, and institutional leadership.

Experience

1. Sustainability Specialist

   Christopher Newport University

   May 2022 — Present · Newport News, VA, US

   Led the campus-wide transition to 100% reusable dining containers, partnering with Dining Services and Auxiliary leadership to eliminate single-use packaging• Launched and scaled the Green2Go reusable dining program in partnership with Reuzzi, achieving verified container returns in just over 2.5 years with a 96% return rate using QR-code tracking• Current Chair of the University Sustainability Committee, leading cross-campus collaboration among 20 members from 10+ departments• Directed the university’s first AASHE STARS submission, earning a Bronze Rating for Christopher Newport University• Coordinated data collection across 27 campus teams to compile institutional sustainability metrics for STARS reporting• Represented sustainability priorities in the RFP and vendor selection process for waste, recycling, and compost hauling contracts• Led sustainability initiatives within athletics, launching a Zero Waste Football program (Fall 2024) that achieved a game-high 86% waste diversion rate through recycling and composting inside the stadium• Chosen to represent CNU initiatives as a presenter at conferences including the Virginia Green Tourism Conference regarding zero waste football and AASHE regarding the reusable tracking program; these were both given in 2025.

Education

• University of Cincinnati

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Environmental Studies; Minor: Business Administration

  2012 — 2016