The American College of Greece is proud to announce that Rania Assariotaki, ACG Sustainability Director, Office of Sustainability – Public Affairs, has been appointed as Vice-President to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Board of Directors, commencing her term in January 2026.
This appointment marks a significant milestone for The American College of Greece. ACG is the first non-North American institution in AASHE’s history to serve on the Board and hold an executive officer role. In this capacity, ACG joins the ranks of globally recognized institutions, serving alongside representatives from Stanford University, Florida State University, the University of California Merced, McGill University, and the University of Calgary.
Through this executive role, ACG gains direct engagement in shaping global sustainability priorities in higher education, expanding international collaborations, and strengthening its global visibility. Furthermore, the College will act as a key liaison within the AASHE network—supporting mentoring and capacity-building initiatives, including guidance for international institutions participating in the STARS framework—enabling AASHE programs, insights, and best practices to directly benefit the ACG community.
“This appointment is a personal honor and a testament to The American College of Greece’s deep-rooted commitment to sustainability leadership. Serving in an executive role at AASHE allows me to amplify ACG’s voice internationally and contribute a distinct European perspective to global policy and strategy discussions. I am eager to use this platform to create meaningful opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange through the STARS framework, and increase visibility for the institution within the world’s leading higher education sustainability network,” shares Ms. Assariotaki.
The AASHE Board of Directors advises, governs, and oversees the policy and direction of the organization, while assisting with the general promotion of AASHE. It consists of 13 members—faculty, students, staff, and administrators representing organizational members. Half of the Board (50%) is elected by the AASHE membership, and appointments ensure that the Board’s collective expertise and diversity reflect that of AASHE’s members.
The role of the Board is to oversee the planning, visioning and setting of priorities, support the organization’s projects and the work of its committees, and be responsible for AASHE as defined by relevant legislation, bylaws and policies. Board members also participate in one or more standing committees, such as the Executive, Finance, Audit, or Governance committees.
Ms. Assariotaki has served as an elected member of AASHE’s Board of Directors since January 2022, previously holding the role of Secretary. In accordance with AASHE’s bylaws, she will assume the Presidency of the Board in the following year.
Since September 2020, she has also served as a mentor on sustainability issues through AASHE’s mentorship program and, in February 2021, she was appointed to the AASHE Advisory Council for her constant commitment and support to promoting sustainability best practices and fostering a culture of sustainability on and off-campus.
The American College of Greece (ACG) is a member of AASHE and submits the STARS report every two years, evaluating its sustainability performance across five categories: Academics, Engagement, Operations, Planning & Administration and Innovation & Leadership. In 2023, ACG earned the STARS Gold Rating for the second consecutive time, remaining the only academic institution in Greece to achieve this distinction.
You can view all the current members of AASHE’s Board of Directors here.
