Andrea Putman

Andrea Putman has dedicated her career to communications, outreach, and building partnerships to advance agricultural, climate, and energy issues. She serves as Assistant Vice President, Communications and Partnerships in the Office of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). Andrea collaborates with member institutions and stakeholders to highlight the value of research, education, and Extension and strengthen coalitions.

Previously, she was Senior Vice President for Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR) Foundation, a non-profit with a goal of increasing funding for USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). She developed FedByScience, a collaboration of universities focused on “storytelling” to highlight the importance of scientists’ research. She co-authored and oversaw production of the Retaking the Field series, as well as helped convene Congressional briefings and coordinate outreach to the media.

Andrea was Director of Higher Education at ecoAmerica, a non-profit that builds awareness and action for climate solutions among mainstream Americans. She engaged 20 university presidents and senior leaders to participate in the Solution Generation Executive Committee.

She served as Second Nature’s Director of Corporate Partnerships for the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, a network of over 670 college and university presidents and chancellors where she recruited and engaged donors. As Director of Sustainability Financing for Second Nature, Andrea co-managed the partnership between the Clinton Climate Initiative and ACUPCC.

has written extensively on agricultural science, climate, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and financing. She is the co-author of two books (Boldly Sustainable: Hope and Opportunity for Higher Education in the Age of Climate Change and The Business Case for Renewable Energy: A Guide for Colleges and Universities) and the editor of one book (Financing Sustainability on Campus) as well as multiple articles and reports.

As President of Green Innovations, Andrea provided expertise on innovative best practices to transition academic institutions toward net-zero energy campuses profitably.

For ICF Consulting, Andrea recruited major financial firms (e.g., Citigroup, Ernst & Young, World Bank, Charles Schwab, JP Morgan Chase) to become ENERGY STAR partners and worked to improve their corporate energy performance.

She served on the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Advisory Council. Andrea was a developer/facilitator for Ithaca College’s Professional Certificate in Sustainability Leadership, a Certified Energy Manager, and a LEED Accredited Professional.