David Havelick

David Havelick has been devoted to advancing sustainability at Harvard University since joining the Office for Sustainability in 2016. As an Associate Director, he plays a key role in setting and accomplishing University-wide sustainability objectives, including leading the development of Harvard’s latest Sustainability Action Plan, launched in May 2023.

David’s work focuses on translating research into action, aligning with the Office’s mission to support pilots and scale solutions at the intersection of climate, health, and equity. He manages many of the governance groups and processes that ensure continuous improvement across a broad spectrum of sustainability priorities.

David was instrumental in developing Harvard’s Sustainable and Healthful Food Standards, which set a vision and priorities for advancing sustainability through the University’s dining services. David also advances sustainability throughout Harvard’s value chain, with a particular focus on enhancing procurement and purchasing practices. He addresses complex challenges such as measuring and reducing Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions in a variety of categories, including food, construction (embodied carbon), information technology (IT), and other purchased goods and services.

Prior to joining the Office for Sustainability, David spent ten years at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the Department of Epidemiology. In addition to his professional responsibilities, he co-led the EcoOpportunity Green Team and led the Harvard Longwood Bicyclists.

David holds a degree in Political Science and Sociology from UMass Amherst and a master’s degree in Sustainability and Environmental Management from the Harvard Extension School. He is on the Board of the Boston Vegetarian Society, and continues to engage with the broader sustainability community through various advisory roles, supporting efforts that advance sustainability in higher education and beyond. In his distant past, David has also been a magician, a bartender, and a political journalist.