Haub Law Opens New Seminar Space, A Tribute to Environmental Law Professor Nicholas A. Robinson
On March 22, 2024, friends and colleagues gathered together in person and virtually from across the globe for the dedication of the Nicholas A. Robinson Seminar Space at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, a room dedicated to preserving and presenting decades of scholarship and legal resources from Professor Nicholas A. Robinson, a pioneer in the field of Environmental Law.
Located on the 4th floor of Preston Hall, the Nicholas A. Robinson Seminar Space houses a vast collection of Professor Robinson’s published work and showcases many achievements and accolades spanning over his distinguished career of almost 50 years at the Law School. Original artwork in the new space includes a collage portrait by artist Geoffrey Stein and an oil painting commissioned by alumnus Justice Jawad Hassad, introducing future students to Professor Robinson’s life and legacy.
“The Nicholas A. Robinson Seminar Space is a place where Professor Robinson’s knowledge will not only be stored, but shared – creating a dedicated space for our students to learn and study,” said Horace E. Anderson, Dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law. “It is Professor Robinson’s vision to utilize the new space for guest lectures, seminars and important discourse centered around environmental law and policy, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps.”
Following remarks from Dean Horace Anderson and Pace University President Marvin Krislov, Professor Robinson was presented with a video including messages from friends, colleagues and alumni around the world, who have all been inspired by his work. In addition, he received a plaque from colleague Professor Wang Xi of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Kunming University of Science and Technology and Wuhan University in China, and a poem from Gus Speth, Co-Founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council and Founder and President of the World Resources Institute, commemorating the special occasion.
Professor Nicholas A. Robinson is University Professor on the Environment and Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law Emeritus at Haub Law, and has been a member of the faculty since 1978.
Professor Robinson is widely recognized in the U.S. and globally as a pioneer of modern environmental law. He began developing environmental law in 1969, when he was named to the Legal Advisory Committee of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality. During his career, he drafted New York’s wetlands and wild bird laws and was inaugurated as the first chairman of both the statutory Freshwater Wetlands Appeals Board and Greenway Heritage Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley. He edited the proceedings of the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Professor Robinson is Chair Emeritus of the IUCN World Commission on Environment Law, serving from 1996 to 2004, and responsible for many innovations including the launch of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law. He has engaged in drafting treaties and counseling different countries on preparation of environmental laws.
During his tenure at the Law School, Professor Robinson helped establish its environmental law programs, founded the environmental law review, launched the Pace Environmental Law Clinic, secured Pace’s membership in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and pioneered the first United Nation’s Environmental Diplomacy Practicum. His work and influence can be attributed to advancing the Law School’s premiere reputation as the top ranked Environmental Law Program in the nation and across the globe.
Professor Robinson is a prolific legal scholar with hundreds of books, chapters, law review and scholarly journal articles and citations to his credit. The new Nicholas A. Robinson Seminar Space will house a curated collection of this work, making it available to students, alumni, and scholars engaged in research.