ACOEL Outreach Committee | ACOEL

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

John Jacus

Fellow

Dan Miller

Daniel Miller

Fellow

Committee Members

Alan

Gregory Perkins

Fellow

Alex

Alexandra Dunn

President

Allan Gates

Emeritus

annette_kovar

Annette Kovar

Fellow

Chuck

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

Fellow

Kevin_Murray

Kevin Murray

Immediate Past 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

Emeritus

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

Immediate Past President

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 Program. In 2021, the Outreach Committee launched ACOEL’s Mentoring Program, which connects ACOEL Fellows (Mentors) with individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of environmental law (Mentees). The Mentoring Program 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. While the Mentoring Program focuses on law students and new lawyers, it is open to curious undergraduate students and other professionals – particularly professionals in scientific, engineering and other technical fields – who may wish to explore whether environmental law is a viable career path. The Outreach Committee particularly seeks to encourage individuals with a broad cross-section of backgrounds and interests to explore a career in environmental law. Mentoring is critical to personal and professional development. No one is “self-made.” We all can look back and identify individuals who played an important role in influencing our future directions. Mentors are particularly important for those who may not have role models readily available to them to emulate. Mentors are also available to present to organizations with members who may have interest in learning more about the practice of environmental law. 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 working in the environmental law and policy arena can enhance 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 engages with entities identified by Fellows as leading work on environmental issues or policies where the ACOEL can provide meaningful support. The Outreach Committee serves as a connection point, facilitating the work of individual Fellows with external organizations. Example collaborations include work with the American Bar Association, the Environmental Law Institute, the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, 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 has also produced white papers with the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) on significant developments in environmental law and policy, including Clean Air Act §111(d) existing source implementation and judicial review of EPA’s Waters of the United States rule.

Outreach Committee Connections. The Outreach Committee works closely with other ACOEL committees on a regular basis. For example:

Members of the Outreach Committee work with the Education Committee on webinars and EPA listening sessions for Fellows.
The Outreach Committee coordinates with the Strategic Planning group to enhance Fellows’ engagement in professional communities, including ACOEL, by developing and promoting a profile template for Fellows to use to share their experiences. This helps align Fellows’ legal and other professional skills and interests with educational and outreach projects initiated by ACOEL.
Outreach Committee members collaborate with the Regional Activities Committee to identify and pursue opportunities 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, John Jacus and Dan Miller.