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COLLEGIATE SPORTS
SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

July 13-15, 2025

Sponsored by the ACC Sports Sustainability Team, the inaugural Collegiate Sports Sustainability Conference unites and magnifies the nation's collegiate winning traditions in sports sustainability.

Who's Invited

All students, sustainability and athletic representatives from universities and colleges across the nation are invited to attend. In addition, those interested in the intersection of sports, sustainability and higher education are warmly welcomed.

Conference Information

When:    Sunday, July 13 - Tuesday, July 15
Where:   Duke University, Scharf Hall
               115 Whitford Drive, Durham, NC, 27708
            

Travel Information

The closest airport to Duke University is Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), located approximately 20 minutes from campus.

Durham Train Station is located at 601 West Main Street, roughly 3.0 miles away from campus.

For those not staying at the JB Duke Hotel and driving to the conference, parking will be available on-site at Duke University at no cost for registered attendees. Additional details about parking logistics will be shared soon.

Conference Hotel

JB Duke Hotel
230 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708

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Staying at the JB Duke Hotel offers several advantages, including complimentary parking and convenient proximity, just a short walk to the conference venue. We encourage you to book early to reserve your room.​

2025 Conference Sponsorship

This event would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, Duke University's Office of Climate and Sustainability, Duke Athletics, Coca-Cola and CNaught, whose commitment to sustainability in sports helps drive real impact on and off the field. We’re proud to recognize their leadership and collaboration.

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Join the team and magnify your impact by sponsoring the 2025 Collegiate Sports Sustainability Conference. Contact:
climate-sustainability@duke.edu for more information.

Agenda

Sunday, July 13, JB Duke Hotel
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.            Welcome Reception

Monday, July 14, Scharf Hall
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.            Coffee & Light Breakfast

8:30 - 9:00 a.m.            Welcome by Duke University

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.    Day 1, Morning:

  • Tracking Emissions from Collegiate Athletic Travel

    • Annabelle Bardenheier, Stanford University

    • Jessica Bast, NC State University

  • Garbage is Our Sport: Creating a Recycling Program to Advance Waste Management on Gameday

    • Chad DeWitt, University of Virginia​

    • Dr. Joseph W. Dorsey, University of South Florida

    • Mike Freeman, Auburn University

  • From Excess to Access: Stadium Food Recovery in Action

    • ​Wyatt Miner, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

    • Jay Price, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

 

12:00 - 12:45 p.m.          Networking Lunch


1:00 - 4:00 p.m.              Day 1, Afternoon:

  • Sustainability in Athletics Coursework

    • Haley Chu, Stanford University​

  • Student Leadership in Action: Building a Sustainable Sports Culture at Duke

    • Trinity Savage, Duke University​

  • Driving Change at CAL: Student-Athletes for the Environment

    • Chloe Rand, University of California, Berkeley​

  • Zero Waste Wolfpack at NC State

    • Emily Mobley, NC State University​

    • Leo Kaiser-Potter, NC State University

  • Activating Student Voices: How YOU Engage Students in Athletic Sustainability

    • Brandon Hersh, Duke University​

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4:00 - 6:00 p.m.           Athletics Sustainability Tour and             
                                      Shootaround*, Cameron Indoor Stadium

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6:30 - 8:00 p.m.           Group Dinner in Durham
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Tuesday, July 15, Scharf Hall
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.            Coffee & Light Breakfast

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9:00 - 11:30 a.m.           Day 2, Morning:

  • From Fan Engagement to Sustainable Revenues: The College Sports Sustainability Business Plan

    • Teddy Lhoutellier, University of Miami

    • Dave Newport, Blue Strike Environmental

  • Ready, Set, Launch: Introducing the Collegiate Sports Sustainability Network (CSSN)

    • Lindsay Batchelor, Duke University

    • Lani St. Hill, NC State University

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11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.   Closing Speaker by Duke University

  • Nina King, Vice President, King-Compton Families Director of Athletics and Adjunct Professor of Business Administration, Duke Athletics

 

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.            Networking Lunch

 

1:30 - 3:30 p.m.              Optional Campus Tour: Sarah P. Duke     
                                        Gardens Tour**

*Duke Athletics Sustainability Tour + Cameron Shootaround w/ Guest Speaker

Bob Weiseman, Deputy Director of Athletics, Operations and Capital Projects
      Explore how Duke Athletics is integrating sustainability into high-performance sports environments. This 75–90 minute behind-the-scenes tour features stops at Kennedy Tower, Cohan Field, Blue Devil Tower and Cameron Indoor Stadium, where participants will also enjoy a shootaround on the historic court.
      Learn how Duke incorporates climate-conscious design, LEED-certified facilities, and operational innovation to deliver elite experiences for athletes, fans, and the campus community.

     Tour Guide: Brandon Hersh, Duke University

**Optional Tour: Sarah P. Duke Gardens
     Join us for a walking tour of Duke’s stunning 55-acre botanical garden, where sustainability and biodiversity are rooted in every design. Discover how Duke Gardens integrates climate-resilient practices, resource conservation and environmental education into its operations and programs.

     Tour Guide: Kavanah Anderson, Director of Learning and Community Engagement

Learn how universities leverage their academic and athletic strengths to green their gameday for people, planet and our collective future.

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Sponsored by the ACC Sports Sustainability Team, the

following events unite and magnify the ACC’s winning traditions in sports sustainability.

2024
ACC Sports Sustainability Conference

Hosted by the University of Miami

July 10-12, 2024

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

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2023

ACC Sports Sustainability Conference

Hosted by the University of Virginia June 21-23, 2023.

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

2022 Workshop Series

Gameday Experiences Workshop

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Wednesday, October 19    1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

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Learn how ACC institutions are greening their gameday to impact people, planet and future through innovative sports sustainability practices.

 

This virtual event will feature 3-minute lightning presentations from the University of Louisville, University of Miami, Syracuse University, University of Virginia and NC State University.

 

Topics will include sustainability-related activations, fan communications, tailgating, composting and more. Time for discussions and the opportunity to “bring your own problem” during breakout sessions will also occur.

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Schedule: Welcome
Duke Syracuse Basketball

2022 Workshop Series

Sports Sustainability and

Higher Education

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Wednesday, June 22    1:00 pm- 2:00 pm

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Learn how higher education institutions are addressing climate change through sports. Sponsored by the ACC Sports Sustainability Team, this virtual event will feature Dr. Jonathan Casper of NC State University Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management speaking on sports sustainability research plus breakout sessions to explore:

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  • How to start  a sports sustainability team on your campus
  • How to involve students and fans around sports sustainability
  • How you can access the ACC Sports Sustainability network and resources
  • Your best practices, resources and tips for sports sustainability

2020 Virtual Symposium

Due to COVID-19, the second annual ACC Sports Sustainability Conference was converted to a virtual symposium held on May 20-21, 2020.

NC STATE

2019 Sports Sustainability Conference

The first annual ACC Sports Sustainability Conference was held at North Carolina State University on June 2-4, 2019.

ACC Sports Sustainability Team

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Clemson University Athletics logo. Orange pawprint
Duke University logo. Blue "D"
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Georgia Tech logo. Gold "G" and "T" with blue outline
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University of Miami logo. Orange and Green "U"
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