Cheryl Cato has been named a 2020 Sustainability Champion by the Texas A&M Office of Sustainability.

Cato, the Division of IT's Associate Vice President for Research and Education Network and Enterprise Facilities Operations, was selected for "balancing the needs for technological advancement and future growth with sustainability and innovation" in overseeing the design, construction and deployment of the West Campus Data Center.

Established in 2017, the Sustainability Champion Awards annually recognize individuals who have demonstrated exemplary effort, dedication and leadership toward fostering a campus culture of sustainability. An anonymous committee at Texas A&M makes each selection.

Dee Childs, Vice President for Information Technology & Chief Information Officer, nominated Cato for the honor.

"Cheryl deserves this honor since she has proven herself to be a Sustainability Champion," Childs said. "Her attention to detail and focus on sustainability prove environmental and social concerns can be integrated into a high-tech facility. She succeeded in making the facility as 'green' as possible while still providing the necessary power, cooling and security a data center requires."

Cato received the honor during a virtual awards ceremony April 22. The ceremony can be viewed on YouTube.