Climate Pathfinder: Leading the Green Devil Way

Brandon Hersh fused his love of sports with his passion for sustainability

Brandon Hersh '24 poses in the heart of where it all began, Duke Athletics. Photo by Jared Lazarus

When Brandon Hersh ’24 arrived at Duke in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, his plan was to pursue a degree in environmental science. Although he was a new student, he was no stranger to campus: his deep Duke family roots included his parents, brother and sister – all of whom are alumni.

Hersh joined the Duke football team during his freshman year, despite never having played football before. Although he fondly recalls his time playing as a wide receiver and later cornerback, he recalls, “I knew my greatest value wasn’t going to be as the guy on the field scoring touchdowns.” He decided instead to use his involvement with athletics to make a difference on campus.

A group of people standing and clapping on an indoor basketball court — Hersh, shown fourth from left, at the Duke Women's Basketball Climate and Sustainability Game. During the event, Hersh presented honors to Vice President and Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability Toddi Steelman (center) and the Duke Sustainable Athletics Group for their support of athletics and sustainability on campus. Photo by Duke Athletics

Hersh was selected to participate on the Duke Student-Athlete Advisory Committee by coach David Cutcliffe, served as an ACTION mentor to freshman athletes, and became the Duke Student Government director for varsity student athlete affairs. His involvement with athletics led to his appointment by President Vincent Price to serve on the Duke University Athletics Council in 2023-24.

Inspiration and a Path Forward

The moment of inspiration for Hersh came when he realized he could merge his interest in sustainability with his passion for sports. A fellow student and field hockey player, Alayna Burns ‘24, had the same idea and was trying to establish a new sustainable athletics group.

“There it was – sustainability plus sports,” Hersh said. “I was like, ‘let me help you build this thing. There’s tremendous opportunity here.’ So together, we started looking at what we could accomplish to make athletics more sustainable and capitalize on our platform.”

This a-ha moment in Hersh’s journey would become the catalyst for a host of projects, connections and accomplishments that would shape his growth at Duke and make significant contributions to Duke’s Climate Commitment.

With this new sense of clarity and purpose, Hersh helped build the Duke Sustainable Athletics Group alongside Burns; helped to pioneer the Devils Doing Good Gear Drive that so far has diverted more than 1,500 pairs of shoes and 500 articles of athletic clothing from landfills; and helped conceptualize and execute multiple Green Games, among other projects.

Hersh and Burns became the first Sustainable Athletics interns at Duke. After graduation, Hersh returned to assume a newly created role within Duke Athletics and the Office of Climate and Sustainability as Duke Athletics Climate & Sustainability Coordinator. His work has earned him several special recognitions, including a regional Billie Jean King ESPN Youth Leadership Award, the ACC Top Six for Service Award, and a Duke Climate Commitment Award.

Capstone Achievements and Impact

Over the past seven months, Hersh has led the effort to position Duke Athletics as a leader in sustainable sports. In his role, he assesses and implements strategic sustainability initiatives, works with key community partners, and aligns athletics with the Duke Climate Commitment. Duke Athletics is well on its way toward its goals, but there is still work to be done to build the long-term infrastructure needed to support lasting change.

A young man standing at a podium speaks to an audience. — Hersh addresses Athletics Climate Team members during a session that mapped the Duke Athletics’ climate and sustainability progress to date and future goals.

One of Hersh’s most significant achievements has been his work to establish the Athletics Climate Team, composed of more than 40 staff members across 20 departments. The team aims to embed sustainability within all aspects of Duke Athletics. This capstone accomplishment highlights the culmination of Hersh’s work and persistence in finding a meaningful and impactful way of fusing his love of sports with his passion for sustainability.

A group of people standing on an indoor basketball court with green light and fog. — Hersh (in white, near center) poses with student-athlete and staff members of the new Athletics Climate Team.

Hersh views sustainability not as a burden or an agenda, but as a tool for efficiency and optimization. What advice does he have for other students who want to make an impact?

“I’d say the first step is to embed yourself in the systems you want to improve. Really get involved and understand the challenges. Then bring solutions.”

For more information or to get involved in Duke Athletics’ climate and sustainability efforts, visit GoDuke.com.

For more information on the Duke Climate Commitment, visit climate.duke.edu.