Shane Stennes is the University of Minnesota’s first Chief Sustainability Officer. As CSO, Shane is responsible for leading sustainability strategy, planning, programs, and initiatives to advance the University’s strategic plan, Elevate Extraordinary 2030. This includes leading in the creation of knowledge and solutions, as well as interdisciplinary education, for a healthy planet with abundant natural resources; investing in modern and sustainable infrastructure to enhance research, discovery, teaching and learning; and accelerating campus climate action and resilience plans to ensure our campuses are contributing to a sustainable environment and future. 

Prior to becoming CSO, Shane served in a number of roles on the University’s Twin Cities campus, most recently as the director of sustainability from 2015 - 2022. Through these campus roles he developed and implemented the campus’ first climate action plan, piloted the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s environmental justice framework during permitting of the combined heat and power project, and led efforts to achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2021.

Shane has a bachelor’s degree in political science with a focus on international relations from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Minnesota and a Masters in Human Resources from the University of South Carolina.

Shane grew up in northern Minnesota along the Canadian border and now lives in Saint Paul with his spouse and two children. His childhood experience and family inspire his work in sustainability. Ultimately, Shane wants to be an instrumental part of the effort to create a better future for his children and his home state.