Phil Valko

Phil Valko serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Sustainability at Washington University in St. Louis. In this role, Phil works with a phenomenal team to oversee operational sustainability at the University, as well as a series of co-curricular student leadership development programs. Phil also leads and participates in a number of national and regional partnerships to accelerate climate action and sustainable practice, including serving as the program chair for the Midwest Climate Summit, serving on the University Climate Change Coalition Steering Committee, and co-chairing a St. Louis regional energy & emissions working group. In addition, Phil developed and teaches an interdisciplinary community-engaged course on renewable energy and pathways to de-carbonize the electric grid.

A 2003 graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Phil worked as a climate change researcher at UC Davis before his passion for community development brought him back to St. Louis to develop a nonprofit focusing on community building, arts, and job skills training. Prior to joining Washington University in 2011, Phil spent several years in the non-profit sector working in community development, public health, and bike and pedestrian advocacy.

Phil is the program chair for the Midwest Climate Summit, which has given him the opportunity to work alongside a truly remarkable group of partners throughout the Midwest.