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Casey Cullen-Woods ’11 grew her passion for sustainability as a student at �պ����� (�պ�����). She earned a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from the �պ����� Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and chose to concentrate her major in ecological design. Through coursework and real-world experiences, she forged a path into the field of building, construction, and corporate sustainability. She now leads sustainable design and operations in the real estate division of , the British multinational bank and investment firm.

Her years as an undergraduate spanned the final planning stages and start of the green reconstruction of the George D. Aiken Center, home to the Rubenstein School. As a student, Casey joined a team of faculty, staff, and students and became immersed in planning for the renovation and U.S. Green Building LEED certification process. Reconstruction began in summer 2010, and the building was completed in January 2012 and LEED-certified in 2013.

“The Rubenstein School puts tremendous value on service-learning, which encouraged me to apply what I learned in courses to my internships and other experiences,” said Casey, who participated in two opportunities abroad where she helped to support local entrepreneurs in Senegal apply for small business loans for sustainable projects and in Dominica, to build solar electric cells for an elementary school.

Casey took the Greening of Aiken Interns (now Greening of Rubenstein Interns) course. She worked on a team of students to examine potential LEED certification criteria for Aiken—from a living eco-machine for recycling gray water to low flow fixtures to waterless urinals.

Her coursework in ecological design connected her with Dr. John Todd, internationally renowned creator of the eco-machine for wastewater treatment and then professor in the Rubenstein School. Casey’s interest in green buildings spurred her to minor in green building and community design in the �պ����� Department of Community Development and Applied Economics. She took architecture courses and built her knowledge in sustainable design.

As a student member of the Rubenstein School Board of Advisors, Casey was introduced to the late Mark Biedron ‘74, former Rubenstein School board member, a mentor in the green reconstruction of the Aiken Center, and co-founder of the Willow School, a sustainable Pre-K through 8th grade independent school in Gladstone, New Jersey. After she graduated, Casey worked as a sustainability consultant at the Willow School.

“The opportunity to work on a living building project right out of school was amazing,” said Casey. “I learned a lot from Mark. He had a good business sense blended with an ethical approach that drove the successful outcome of the Willow School. It launched me into everything else along my career path in sustainability.”

At the Willow School and at Solid Wood Construction, LLC, a general contracting company specializing in green construction and historic renovation also founded by Mark Biedron, she worked with designers and sub-contractors to manage documentation for LEED certification and compliance with the Living Building Challenge. Casey earned her master’s degree in urban sustainability from City College in New York City in 2013.

A leader in sustainability

Casey then worked with several different companies to advise developers and architects about LEED certification and long-term sustainability and resilience of commercial and multifamily residential buildings. Most recently, she served as a senior sustainability manager and head of sustainability in North America at the Mace Group, a UK-based construction and general contracting firm.

Based in Whippany, New Jersey, Casey is now vice-president and global sustainable design and operations lead for Barclays, a company of 100,000 staff worldwide. The company, founded in the 1600s and one of the world’s oldest banks, was one of the first financial institutions to commit to net zero energy in both its operations and investments. Casey is in charge of ensuring that Barclays’ buildings, more than 800 globally, from bank branches to extensive corporate campuses, operate as net zero by 2050, among other sustainability targets and interim goals.

To reach Barclays’ ambitious target to decrease carbon emissions of its buildings by 90 percent, Casey helps to implement sustainable strategies—from planning for an all-electric vehicle fleet to consideration of hybrid remote work schedules. She works closely with the teams that implement energy efficiency upgrades at each site.  

Casey regularly reports on interim targets and building performance. She also sits in on company contract negotiations related to energy and power.

“This is one of my first roles in such a significant company where sustainability is core to what we do, and we are making significant investments and change,” said Casey. “Barclays is really looking to walk the talk when it comes to their buildings’ sustainability and net zero energy.”

Outside of her career in corporate sustainability, Casey serves as a Girl Scout leader for a local troop in New Jersey. As a life-long Girl Scout who participated until she aged out of the program, Casey stepped in to mentor a group of now high school sophomores in need of a leader and has led the troop for ten years.

“I enjoy getting them excited about nature and, of course, sustainability,” she said with a smile.

Current students interested in networking in the sustainability field can contact Casey on , the university’s online networking platform.