Environmental Justice and Human Rights Scholar Rebecca Bratspies to serve as a Visiting Professor of Environmental Law and Haub Visiting Scholar at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is pleased to announce that Professor Rebecca Bratspies will serve as a Visiting Professor of Environmental Law and Haub Visiting Scholar at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University for the spring 2024 semester. Professor Bratspies is a Professor at CUNY School of Law, where she is the founding director of the Center for Urban Environmental Reform. While at Haub Law, Professor Bratspies will teach Administrative Law and a Health and the Environment seminar.

“Haub Law’s environmental program is renowned for its innovative curriculum, and we pride ourselves in exposing our student and faculty community to scholars at the top of their fields,” said Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law, Associate Dean for Environmental Law Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Jason J. Czarnezki. “We are thrilled to welcome Professor Bratspies to Haub Law. A scholar in environmental justice and human rights law, her knowledge and forward-thinking is a perfect complement to our environmental law program. Each of our students who participate in her class will leave with an additional and enhanced perspective on the field.” While at Haub Law, Professor Bratspies will also deliver the School’s annual Lloyd K. Garrison Lecture on Environmental Law. "A highly-sought after scholar and teacher, Professor Bratspies, and her deep commitment to law in the service of human needs will find a warm and receptive home at Haub Law. Students and faculty alike are looking forward to her Spring visit,” notes Achinthi Vithanage, Associate Director of Environmental Law Programs.

Professor Bratspies has written scores of law review articles which have been published in a variety of prestigious publications. Her most recent book Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues and Heroes Behind New York Place Names, won the New York Public Historians 2023 award for Excellence in Local History. Her co-authored textbook Environmental Justice: Law Policy and Regulation is used in schools across the country. Professor Bratspies is perhaps best known for The Environmental Justice Chronicles—her award winning environmental justice comic books Mayah’s Lot, Bina’s Plant, and Troop’s Run, made in collaboration with artist Charlie LaGreca-Velasco. EPA recognized this work with the 2023 Clean Air Act Award for Excellence in Education/Outreach.

Professor Bratspies serves on NYC’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board, is a member-scholar with the Center for Progressive Reform, a board member of the Environmental Law Collective, and a member of the NYC Bar Environmental Committee. ABA-SEER honored her work with its 2021 Commitment to Diversity and Justice Award. She was named the Center for International Sustainable Development Law’s 2022 International Legal Specialist for Human Rights Award, and her environmental justice advocacy has been awarded the PSC-CUNY “In It Together” Award, and the Eastern’ Queens Alliance’s Snowy Egret Award. In 1994-95, she was a Luce Scholar seconded to the Republic of China Environmental Protection Administration in Taipei, Taiwan. Before that, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable C. Arlen Beam on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Professor Bratspies holds a JD cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, and a BA in Biology from Wesleyan University.

“I'm honored to spend time with the Haub Law community as a Haub Visiting Scholar,” said Professor Rebecca Bratspies. “I look forward to the spring semester and sharing my research and ideas with Haub Law's impressive student body, faculty, and staff towards furthering our common goal and commitment to environmental justice.”

In their roles at Haub Law, Haub Visiting Scholars collaborate with faculty, guest lecture classes, and work closely with students in the Environmental Law Program and others. As previously announced, funding for the Haub Visiting Scholars was made possible by a gift from the Haub family in recognition of the essential role of environmental science, informatics and other technology and allied fields towards formulating environmental policy and law.