In search of justice

Recommendations

Info

CLASS NOTES ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT JEN DUGGAN JD/MSEL’07 The corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana— known as Cancer Alley—was a catalyst for Jen Duggan. Born in south Louisiana, Jen regularly traveled this area to visit family, observing all the while the clusters of industrial and chemical plants. “The communities, toxic odors, and polluted air left a big impression on me,” Jen described. “It planted the first seeds of awareness of the connection between public health and the environment and was the foundation for my passion to fight for equal access to a clean and healthy environment.” Nowadays, in her role as General Counsel at Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources, she utilizes this passion in service of the agency’s mission to protect public health and the natural environment on behalf of the people of Vermont. As a working parent of two young children, Jen faces many of the same challenges other lawyers face—“there are never enough hours in the day,” Jen adds. “One of the most important skills a lawyer needs to have is the ability to prioritize limited time to advance important priorities instead of only putting out fires.” In managing legal services for the Agency’s Central Office and its three Departments (Environmental Conservation; Fish and Wildlife; Forest, Parks, and Recreation), Jen’s spends her time working to improve the Agency’s legal systems and processes and working directly on significant permit, litigation, and enforcement matters. Jen never considered becoming a lawyer until a friend suggested Vermont Law School. With an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Anthropology, she had taken several years off to travel in the U.S. and British Columbia, working various jobs along the way. Spurred by her passion for the environment, public health protection, and environmental justice and human rights, and inspired by Vermont Law School’s commitment to public interest law and the environment, she enrolled. Working as a student clinician for the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic with professors David Mears and Pat Parenteau was invaluable, preparing her for a job with the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) in Washington, D.C. “Just a few months after I joined EIP, I was assigned to work on a citizen suit enforcement case to clean up leaking coal ash landfills,” Jen recalled. “I don’t think I would have known where to start without the experience I gained as a student clinician. Ultimately, the lawsuit resulted in a settlement agreement to clean up the three landfills.” Reflecting on her current role, which she has held since the spring of 2015, Jen remains inspired by the power of environmental law in combatting injustice as well as offering opportunities for growth. “As an environmental lawyer, you not only have to know the law, you have to also understand the underlying scientific and technical issues, which can be complex.” She continued: “Each new case is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the science, work with talented technical experts, and learn something new.” Illustration and story by Hannah Morris with the False Claims Act, antikickback statute and Sunshine Act among other things. Not only am I working for an actual corporation but it’s the first time in my career I have had to DRIVE to work every day! Couple that with not being able to sit around in my work out gear all day and it’s a big, big change, but going well so far. Thankfully, my company has afforded me the opportunity to continue to work on a conference and coalition I started a couple years ago in the microbiome space, focused on the hurdles that industry faces in commercializing new microbiome based therapies, diagnostics, and consumer products. This is a burgeoning area of research with some fascinating correlations between the microbiome and human health and disease going on so I get to keep my hand in an emerging field of scientific inquiry while feeding my creative side as I try to figure out how to run a conference and coalition. Aside from that, Arizona is actually welcoming its first full size aquarium this year, which clearly makes no sense from anything other than an economic perspective. But I am helping sort out the volunteer diver program and look forward to actually being able to dive in the desert (and see something other than lake weeds) in short order.” 1997 Cheryl Deshaies Davis davis4nh@comcast.net 1998 Thomas Leary thomas.f.leary@gmail.com
CLASS NOTES 1999 Joy Kanwar-Nori joy.kanwar@gmail.com 2003 Shannon Maher Bañaga vlsmaher@yahoo.com 2005 Meg Munsey and Kelly Singer vermontlaw2005@gmail.com Meredith Hatfield JD’99/MSEL’96 recently joined the Barr Foundation in Boston as Clean Energy Program Officer after many years of energy work in New Hampshire state government. “I’m loving the walking commute over the Charlestown Bridge and through the North End (wondering what it will be like in snow!)” writes Meredith, “and adjusting to going from 1,200 square feet to about 100 for the same price. Crazy real estate market in this town! Looking forward to reconnecting with VLSers in Boston.” 2000 Anna Fry adafry@aol.com Kristy Caron kristycaron@gmail.com Kelly Baetz JD/MSEL’00 of Verrill Dana based in Portland, Maine, was recognized by Best Lawyers© 2017 in Land Use and Zoning Law. 2001 Karen Murray kmurray9515@gmail.com Samara Anderson JD/MSEL’03 writes, “I left the Attorney General’s office on August 19, and started a new legal position at Health & Human Services Enterprise (HSE) as the Sustainability Legal Lead on complex projects to modernize the IT environment that delivers health and human services to the most vulnerable members in Vermont. This is a very exciting time to be at HSE as these projects have never been tackled before by Vermont. I have been given the opportunity to be a part of ground-breaking programs to reshape and enhance internal business processes and optimize the utilization of information to provide a better platform for both the providers and the beneficiaries of these human service benefits programs. Additionally, I will become an expert in this integrated project as well as every health and human service program that delivers benefits in the State of Vermont. Overall, I am excited to be a part of addressing Vermonters’ needs by creating a person-centric system that streamlines management and access to health and human services. And, I am able to do this and continue to teach yoga and mindful practices workshops throughout New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire! Life couldn’t be better.” Steven Kelton JD’05, is now the Litigation Support Supervisor for the Colorado Department of Law. His team uses technology to support the department’s 270-plus attorneys with eDiscovery, document review, case management, and trial presentation solutions. Steve and his family live in Boulder, Colorado. Amy Manzelli JD’05/MSEL’07, Jason Reimers JD’05, and Elizabeth Boepple JD’97 are excited to have joined forces. Their firm, BCM Environmental & Land Law, PLLC, is now expanding from New Hampshire to Vermont and Maine. Evan Mulholland LLM’05 writes, “In March 2016, I began serving as the Compliance Bureau Administrator for the Air Resources Division of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. The Bureau is tasked with ensuring that all stationary sources of air pollution comply with the Clean Air Act and state law.” Evan and wife, Liz (Vires) Mulholland JD’07, are celebrating their ten-year wedding anniversary this September. 2002 Paige Bush-Scruggs paigescruggs@comcast.net 2004 Spencer Hanes spencer.hanes@duke-energy.com AMY MANZELLI JD’05/MSEL’07, JASON REIMERS JD’05, AND ELIZABETH BOEPPLE JD’97 HAVE JOINED FORCES AT THE FIRM BCM ENVIRONMENTAL & LAND LAW, PLLC. 45 WINTER 2016/2017
Page 1 and 2: WINTER 2016/2017 THE ALUMNI MAGAZIN
Page 4 and 5: CONTENTS Spinning the Barrel Firear
Page 6 and 7: Rob Bossi OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT A
Page 8 and 9: DISCOVERY USDA FUNDING FOR FOOD WOR
Page 10 and 11: DISCOVERY ALUMNUS TAKES ON WALMART
Page 12 and 13: LOQUITUR 10 Adobe Stock
Page 14 and 15: North East Gun Shows puts on about
Page 16 and 17: CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN ALBUQUERQUE. T
Page 18 and 19: The (Public) Defense Rests. Voices
Page 20 and 21: Chris Middleton's office is spartan
Page 22 and 23: “When we sit with our clients, th
Page 24 and 25: The Movement for black lives in a r
Page 26 and 27: have done a lot to undercut the per
Page 28 and 29: A Delaware judge recently displayed
Page 30 and 31: 'People are beginning to accept tha
Page 32 and 33: Photo courtesy of Amanda George-Whe
Page 34 and 35: COP TO COURTROOM ALEX MANNING HOLDS
Page 36 and 37: JD/MELP’10 Tim Fair ADDICT TO ATT
Page 38 and 39: Anna JD’85 Saxman ANNA SAXMAN GOT
Page 40 and 41: LOQUITUR 38 Barnum Photography
Page 42 and 43: CLASS NOTES NEWS FROM THE DC REGION
Page 44 and 45: CLASS NOTES 1991 Peg Stolfa margare
Page 48 and 49: CLASS NOTES 2006 Ashley Carson Cott
Page 50 and 51: CLASS NOTES Norris, on Father’s D
Page 52 and 53: IN MEMORIAM Elizabeth Anne Leopold
Page 54 and 55: VERMONT ALBUM CONTRA DANCING DURING
Page 56 and 57: REPORT OF GIVING FY 2016 THE NEXT G
Page 58 and 59: REPORT OF GIVING FY 2016 DONOR LIST

In search of justice

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?