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ACOEL Outreach Committee

Welcome to the ACOEL Outreach Committee web page. Thank you for your interest in our work and opportunities to engage with our Committee. In its outreach endeavors, the Committee identifies, cultivates and develops collaborative relationships among and between ACOEL Fellows and with other external organizations. Ideal relationships yield tangible projects and increase awareness of the College and Fellows. Examples of valuable recent collaborations include: The Judge Alfred P. Murrah Center for Homeland Security Law & Policy 2019 Summit, cosponsored with the Oklahoma City University School of Law (April 18-19, 2019); the EPA Superfund Task Force Final Report Listening Sessions cosponsored with ABA SEER and AALS (Summer, 2020). The Outreach Committee is also the domestic pro bono committee for ACOEL.

The Outreach Committee facilitates ongoing projects as well, including the Annual Herrmann Legal Writing Award and the ACOEL Mentoring Program, among other activities. To accomplish our work, members of the Outreach Committee regularly connect with members of the Communications, Education, and International & Pro Bono Committees. The ACOEL Strategic Plan outlines several priorities for the Outreach Committee that focus our work. Some are highlighted below.

Co-Chairs
lynn h. slade
Lynn Slade

Fellow
Alex
Alexandra Dunn

Fellow
Committee Members
Alan
Gregory Perkins

Fellow
Alex
Alexandra Dunn

Fellow
allan_gates
Allan Gates

Fellow
annette_kovar
Annette Kovar

Fellow
charles_warren
Charles Warren

Fellow
david_erickson
David Erickson

Fellow
David Farer
David Farer

Fellow
david_flannery
David Flannery

Fellow
eugene_smary
Eugene Smary

Fellow
hilary_tompkins
Hilary Tompkins

Fellow
Irma
Irma Russell

Fellow
Jim
James Bruen

Fellow
james_holtkamp
James Holtkamp

Emeritus
Jimmy
James May

Fellow
Janet
Janet Coit

Fellow
Jeff
Jeff Thaler

Fellow
john_cruden
John Cruden

Fellow
John Jacus
John Jacus

Fellow
Kevin_Murray
Kevin Murray

President
leanne_burnett
LeAnne Burnett

Fellow
Linda Crook Martin
Linda Martin

Fellow
lynn h. slade
Lynn Slade

Fellow
margaret_campbell
Margaret Campbell

Fellow
martha_rudolph
Martha Rudolph

Fellow
michael_meloy
Michael Meloy

Fellow
mike_brennan
Mike Brennan

Emeritus
pamela_giblin
Pamela Giblin

Fellow
paul_phillips
Paul Phillips

Fellow
polly_jessen
Polly Jessen

Fellow
robert_whetzel
Robert Whetzel

Fellow
Stephanie Bergeron Perdue
Stephanie Bergeron Perdue

Fellow
stephanie_parent
Stephanie Parent

Fellow
susan_franzetti
Susan Franzetti

Fellow
Ted
Theodore Garrett

Emeritus
Tom
Thomas Burack

Fellow
Todd
Todd Palmer

Fellow
Tracy
Tracy Hester

President-Elect
victoria_arroyo
Victoria Arroyo

Fellow
Projects

ACOEL Annual Herrmann Environmental Writing Award. The Herrmann Writing Award is a single stipend of $3,500 to the author of the winning submission, either an article, case note, or essay, plus $500 to the submitting law journal. Candidates are students at U.S. law schools who submit written work that promotes the understanding of legal issues in the field of environmental law. The Outreach Committee promotes the annual event, reviews the submissions, and selects the winner. The award is named for Stephen E. Herrmann, a leader in environmental law and co-founder of the ACOEL.

ACOEL Mentoring, Diversity, and Outreach Program (MDOP). In 2022, the Outreach Committee will advance prior mentoring initiatives through the expanded MDOP, which connects ACOEL Fellows (Mentors) with law students and early career professionals who seek guidance to develop their path in the field of environmental law (Mentees). MDOP helps Mentees discover what the practice of environmental law is, whether an environmental law career could be a good fit, and how to develop a career and professional network. MDOP is open to curious undergrads, law students, new lawyers, and other professionals – particularly STEM professionals. The Outreach Committee is particularly dedicated to attracting diverse students and diverse professionals to careers in environmental law. Mentors are available to present to diversity or affiliation organizations about the practice. Learn more or get involved here: https://acoel.org/for-mentees/ (Public) and https://acoel.org/for-mentors/ (Fellows Only/Login Required).

ACOEL Collaborations.  Collaborative relationships between the ACOEL and other non-governmental organizations that work in the environmental law and policy arena can increase awareness of the College and help those external organizations meet their objectives. To establish collaborative relationships between the ACOEL and qualified U.S. non-project organizations working on environmental law and policy, the Outreach Committee communicates with entities identified by Fellows that are leading work on an environmental issue or policy where the ACOEL can provide support. The Outreach Committee serves as a connection point to facilitate work of individual members with external organizations. Example collaborations include work with the American Bar Association, the Environmental Law Institute, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, the National Science Foundation, The Judge Alfred P. Murrah Center for Homeland Security Law & Policy, and the Waterkeeper Alliance. More information about these and other outreach connections is available .

ACOEL also produced white papers with the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) on significant developments in environmental law and policy, such as Clean Air Act §111(d) existing source implementation and judicial review of EPA’s Waters of the United States rule .

Outreach Committee Connections. Connections between the Outreach Committee and other ACOEL committees are frequent. For example, members of the Outreach Committee work with the Education Committee on webinars and EPA listening sessions for Fellows; members of the Outreach Committee coordinate with the Strategic Planning group to enhance Fellows’ engagement in professional communities, including ACOEL, by completing a profile template for Fellows to use to share their experiences, so we can connect Fellows’ legal and other professional skills and interests with educational and outreach projects initiated by ACOEL; members of the Outreach Committee collaborate with the Regional Activities Committee to identify ways to engage with state bar associations, regional conferences, and other events.

 

Get Involved

The Outreach Committee is open to all Fellows. We invite you to get involved and share your ideas for new domestic pro bono projects and outreach collaborations. To learn more about the ongoing projects of the Outreach Committee and to join our group, please contact Committee Co-Chairs, Krista McIntyre and Lynn Slade.