Pitt Department of Occupational Therapy Achieves Sustainable Oak Distinction
In July 2026, the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Occupational Therapy earned the top-tier sustainability distinction from the Pitt Green Office Program: The Sustainable Oak. As of August 2026, there are 27 Pitt offices with the Sustainable Oak designation, which is the highest Pitt Green Office distinction, followed by Saplings, Sprouts, and Seeds.
“The Green Office self-assessment has just made a lot of us stop and ask, ‘Do we need this?’ or ‘Is this the best solution?’” said Robin A. Leaf, MEd, who led this initiative for the Pitt Department of Occupational Therapy.
As the Director of Academic and Department Operations in the Department of Occupational Therapy and a Pitt Green Ambassador, Leaf was also completing Pitt’s Sustainability Professional Certificate Program while conducting the Green Office self-assessment.
“For example, regarding technology changes, we had classroom microphones whose AA batteries needed to be replaced and recycled twice a week. And with the Green Office initiative, we’re willing to take the extra steps and look into something. Now we have microphones with rechargeable batteries. This change is both most sustainable and cost-effective; it’s a win-win,” said Leaf.
When it comes to sustainability, Leaf said, “I think people assume it’s often unattainable. But it’s the small little steps towards this progress that can make a big difference.” Leaf was inspired to take the lead on the Pitt Green Office initiative for the Department of Occupational Therapy, driven by her commitment to environmental issues. “I’ve always believed that we should be taking better care of our planet,” said Leaf.
Growing from Seed to Sustainable Oak
Leaf’s approach to implementing sustainability changes for the Pitt Department of Occupational Therapy is informed by her background in education and department administration.
“When I think about sustainability in general, I’m thinking about how I can make things evergreen and efficient for the future,” said Leaf. She highlighted the importance of using and creating tools that help programs build capacity, such as checklists and process documents, as well as choosing office products made from durable or recycled materials.
As it was the first time the Department of Occupational Therapy was participating, Leaf’s first step in engaging with the Pitt Green Office initiative and self-assessment was to assemble a team that included the Department of Occupational Therapy Chair, Juleen Rodakowski and Vice Chairs Ketki Raina and Denise Chisholm. “I also worked with our admin staff, who purchase items, our faculty and staff, so everyone in the department had a hand in it too,” said Leaf.
Using the Pitt Green Office spreadsheet and the Pitt Green Office self-assessment, programs complete a review of their activities, purchases, decisions, and events. Then, departments evaluate what changes they can make to increase their sustainability efforts in areas including energy, waste, and food, among others.
Several features that the Department of Occupational Therapy already had in place that helped them earn the Sustainable Oak include automatic lighting, water dispensers to encourage water bottle use over disposable plastic bottles, K-Cup recycling, different recycling bins in the hallway, and an established workplace culture where people are careful about printing.
“It’s about raising awareness that it is small things, and it adds up to make a big difference,” said Leaf.
Sustainable Offices Lead to Sustainable Community
What starts with a spreadsheet transforms into faculty and staff wellbeing and community support. “In the tool that Pitt gave us, it’s not only about the environment and sustainability, but also community engagement, and a more holistic look at health and wellness. Pitt allows staff to volunteer once a month. And part of the Green Office self-assessment is to remind staff to use their volunteer hours each month to contribute to the broader community. It’s nice that it’s not just about how you are not wasting paper and also how you are in your space and community,” said Leaf.
This highlights what is at the heart of sustainability: people, problem-solving, and community collaboration. “We are working towards moving from disposable plastic ware to silverware in the kitchen. And we even have dishwashers, so we've realized we must work together to set a schedule for cleaning,” said Leaf.
What Leaf and the Department of Occupational Therapy have learned through Pitt’s institutional support and conversations has also resulted in strengthened connections with other offices.
Pitt Green Ambassadors get together twice a year to share ideas and questions. It’s nice to be part of this group, to see what others are doing, to share these ideas with leadership. It keeps our resilience up, shows we’re making progress, and keeps people engaged,” said Leaf.
The Pitt Green Office initiative is a way for each office to explore what works for them, share ideas, and build resilience, bolstered by Pitt's support as it works toward the goal of being climate neutral.