Institute for Energy and the Environment

Research Associates

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JEFF ASLAN

JD Candidate 2013

Jeff earned a BA in Philosophy and French from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2006, and then worked as a paralegal in civil litigation and tax law. In 2008, Jeff helped install one of the largest solar arrays in Massachusetts with Nexamp. At VLS, Jeff is an Articles Editor on the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law. He also serves in a leadership role with two student groups: the Vermont Energy Collaborative and Campus Greening Committee.  In the spring of 2011, Jeff researched state and federal agricultural regulations as a volunteer with Rural Vermont. In the summer of 2011, Jeff interned with Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. In his current internship with CLF, Jeff has researched and written articles and legal memos on hydropower, gas pipeline expansions, Vermont Yankee, and renewable portfolio standards. In summer 2012, Jeff worked on environmental issues in Alaska with Trustees for Alaska, a non-profit environmental law firm in Anchorage.

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ABIGAIL BARNES

JD Candidate 2014

Abi received her BA from Kenyon College in International Studies with a minor in Chinese and concentration in Environmental Studies. Following graduation, Abi worked in the environmental unit of a plaintiffs' firm in Manhattan and was a lead paralegal on the TVA Ash Spill litigation. While there, she also performed environmental public health research and devoted a portion of her time to assessing the feasibility of litigation involving phthalate exposure. In the summer before law school, Abi interned at the non-profit environmental publication chinadialogue, where she published several articles on contemporary environmental issues. Abi began Mandarin studies in college and later studied abroad in China with the Middlebury language program. While in China, Abi worked with environmental organizations and helped run a project in Beijing titled TreeBirds, which raised money from local businesses to offset deforestation. Abi is a Joint Research Fellow with the Vermont Law U.S.-China Partnership and a Staff Editor on the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law. This past summer, Abi worked as a research assistant with the China Environment Forum at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington D.C.

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MINDY BLANK

MELP Candidate 2013

Mindy Blank graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Environmental Studies from Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT, where she specialized in Sustainable Community Planning and Buddhist Studies. During her undergraduate career, she collaborated with the college administration and Board of Trustees to develop a Socially Responsible Investing policy. This policy was one of the main components in the college being named the "Greenest School" in the nation by the Sierra Club magazine. Mindy also played an active role in the Student Campus Greening Fund where she reviewed grant applications, awarded grants to students, and assisted students in completing sustainability projects on campus. After the completion of her undergraduate degree, she interned with the Shelburne Planning Commission in Shelburne, VT, where she organized a community development forum and wrote a town forest management plan for two forest properties. Mindy has worked extensively on environmental research projects internationally in Brazil, India, Thailand, and Panama. Her professional interests are smart grid implementation, sustainable community planning, international climate change policy, and agricultural policy.

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CHRISTOPHER CASEY

JD, MELP, Energy Certificate Candidate 2013

After graduating from Bates College in 2006 with a BA in Rhetoric, Chris moved to San Francisco where he helped establish Got Grease?, a small kitchen grease recycling company, and, as operations manager expanded its service throughout the Bay area.  He then spent eighteen months teaching English and environmental science in the Galapagos implementing environmental education projects that engaged students with the natural environment and promoted more sustainable daily habits and behavior. During the summer of 2012, Christopher worked in the Legal Division of the California Public Utilities Commission in San Francisco.

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DANIELLE CHANGALA

MELP 2010/JD Candidate 2013

Danielle Changala graduated cum laude from the University of California, San Diego with a double major in political science and psychology. After college, Danielle interned with New Generation Energy, a non-profit renewable investment firm focusing on extending capital from private investors to community-level renewable energy projects. Danielle completed her Masters in Environmental Law and Policy in 2010 while earning the Certificate in Energy Law. Danielle spent last summer interning with the Conservation Law Foundation in Boston where she worked in the Clean Energy and Climate Change program area. Danielle was published in the Energy Law Journal in 2011 for her article analyzing the necessary legal regimes for successful implementation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

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SHANNON CLARKE

JD Candidate 2013

Shannon Clarke received a BA in Sociology from the University of North Florida. During her undergraduate education, she worked as a research assistant for the Journal of Energy Security. After graduating, she was hired as an energy and environmental intern for the National Association of Counties (NACo). At NACo, Shannon provided technical support to counties on renewable energy, energy-efficiency and sustainable development. Most recently, Shannon was the local government relations consultant for the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) national office in Washington, D.C.. At AIA, she conducted research on local government sustainability, green building policy and green economic development. Shannon was a political consultant for a county in Florida, and was awarded a fellowship to work at the Democratic National Committee. She has interned for a U.S. Senate Homeland Security subcommittee and the Office of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. Shannon is the content editor of the Forum, Vermont Law School’s student-run newspaper, and chair of the Business Law Society’s Entrepreneurship Collaborative. Shannon’s interests include: energy infrastructure development, entrepreneurship, and rural electrification.

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JIM CUNNINGHAM

JD Candidate 2014

After graduating from Villanova with a BA in political science,   Jim was hired as a paralegal at Winston & Strawn, LLP in its New York office. While there he worked on many high profile cases including multiple litigations relating to smoking and health torts.  He later transferred to Winston & Strawn's Washington, DC office and  attended Senate Subcommittee meetings on food aid policy, and reported to attorneys the proposed policies' effects on clients' interests. He also wrote a maritime environmental crimes blog that was featured on the firm's website. The blog focused on violations of the Clean Water Act; the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships; and the Port and Waterways Safety Act. In addition to his work with the Energy Institute, Jim is an active member of the Dartmouth Energy Collaborative, and on the staff of the Vermont Law Review. During the 2012 summer, he worked as a legal intern at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

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JAY EIDSNESS

JD Candidate 2013

Jay Eidsness graduated with a BA from Saint John’s University in central Minnesota. His undergraduate studies centered on biology, with specific emphasis on ecology and plant science. In the spring of 2007, Jay collected botanical data in backcountry Idaho as part of a biological opinion commissioned by the US Forest Service. His involvement with the biological opinion gave him an inside view as to how national environmental law and policy plays out in the field, which ultimately spurred his decision to attend law school at VLS. During the summer of 2011, Jay worked for Central Minnesota Legal Services, a legal aid law firm in Minneapolis. His experience at CMLS gave him a greater knowledge of the legal process and cemented his desire to advocate on behalf of the marginalized and voiceless. At VLS Jay has focused his extracurricular activities on community building. He is currently mentoring a second grader at a neighboring elementary school and partnering with community members and fellow students to provide a free meal every Friday night. Jay’s activities include gardening, soccer, and biking to and from work in the subzero temperatures of his native Minneapolis.

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BECKY FU

LLM Candidate 2013

Fang Fu (Becky) came to Vermont Law School for the Environmental Law LLM program in 2011 from China, and graduated as a magna cum laude in 2012. She then enrolled in the American Legal Studies LLM program for academic year 2012-2013 as a fellow for Energy Institute, U.S.-China Partnership and International Environment Center of Vermont Law School. Before she came to Vermont Law School, she spent 3 years studying her for Juris Master degree at Sun Yet-sen University in China. She passed the Chinese bar exam in 2009. During her stay in Vermont Law School, she developed strong interests in energy law. She is currently working with David Farnsworth from RAP (Regulatory Assistance Project) on a research paper about Carbon Capture and Storage in China.  The paper is due to be published soon.

Becky's goal is to pass the New York bar exam and work as an attorney between the United States and China on energy issues. She believes the cooperation of the two nations can lead to cleaner and more efficient energy for the future.

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JOAN GABEL

MELP 2012

Joan Gabel graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University with a double major in International Relations and Russian Language and a minor in Economics. She entered VLS in 2011 as a Master's of Environmental Law and Policy student and is concurrently pursuing a Master's of Science at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. Prior to joining VLS, she held positions in Russian area studies at the Cold War International History Project, the National Endowment for Democracy's Europe/Eurasia division, and the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard. She intends to use her degrees to bridge the communication gap between scientists and policy-makers to build effective solutions to environmental problems.

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SARA IMPERIALE

MELP/JD Candidate 2013

Sara Imperiale graduated summa cum laude from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, with honors in Political Science and minors in Environmental Studies and French.  During her undergraduate career, she worked for a variety of environmental nonprofits including Clean Water Action, Edison Wetlands Association, and Green Map System.  This summer she worked as a legal fellow for the Natural Resources Defense Council at its New York headquarters, focusing primarily on environmental justice issues.  At VLS she has been a Joint Research Fellow with the U.S. China Partnership for Environmental Law and a student clinician at the South Royalton Legal Clinic. Sara is currently an Articles Editor on the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, a Dean's Fellow with the legal writing program, and a member of the Moot Court Advisory Board. 

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GRAHAM JESMER

JD Candidate 2013

Graham Jesmer graduated from St. Michael's College, Vermont with degrees in both Economics and Journalism. Immediately following college Graham worked as a producer at WXXI-TV in Rochester, New York, where he covered local business and politics. Graham's areas of expertise are renewable energy policy and market trends, which he developed while working for RenewableEnergyWorld.com, a leading industry trade publication. During his time with the publication, he covered the solar, wind and bioenergy sectors extensively, publishing stories on a wide variety of topics including Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), tax equity financing, federal energy legislation and the progress of the fledgling U.S. offshore wind market. He also did on-camera reporting live at industry events across a variety of sectors including Solar Power International, Windpower, Renewable Energy World Europe and Intersolar, speaking with industry and political leaders from around the world. Graham has also worked as a Government Affairs Intern with the Solar Energy Industries Association in Washington, D.C. where he did work related to FERC the FTC, SEC and federal tax policy. He is currently pursuing his JD at Vermont Law School where he also serves as Economics Editor for the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law.

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KATIE JOHNSON

JD Candidate 2013

Katie Johnson graduated summa cum laude from Otterbein University with a Bachelor’s of Science in economics. During her undergraduate career, Katie served on the Otterbein University Board of Trustees and the University’s Sustainability Committee where she worked to implement sustainable initiatives in the University’s strategic plan. Additionally, Katie studied economics at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. After graduation, Katie studied French in Toulouse, France and upon returning worked as a financial planning assistant with First Citizens National Financial Group. Most recently, Katie worked in the Energy and Environment Department of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to implement the State’s alternative energy portfolio standard.

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SOPHIA KRUSZEWSKI

JD Candidate 2013

Sophia graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan with a BS in Environmental Science and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Sophia worked as a plant pathology field researcher and then as a teacher; developing and implementing experiential science curricula for public schools in Massachusetts and New York. Most recently, Sophia was the Environmental Policy Associate at the Center for Food Safety, a Washington D.C.-based public interest advocacy organization. As Policy Associate, Sophia worked to advance federal food and agriculture policy that promoted the interests of consumers, farmers, and the environment. At VLS, Sophia is a staff member of the Vermont Law Review and serves on the Executive Board of both the Environmental Law Society and the Food and Agriculture Law Society. Hailing from a Michigan farming family, Sophia’s research interests include the practical and policy implications of the convergence between agriculture and climate change.

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OWEN McCLAIN

JD Candidate 2013

Owen McClain earned his BA in Philosophy and the History of Mathematics from St. John's College in Annapolis Maryland. While pursuing his law degree, Owen has clerked with the Special Counsel to the Governor of Vermont and interned at the Vermont Supreme Court. He has also worked as a Summer Law Clerk for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Office of General Counsel. Before pursuing a law degree, Owen was an entrepreneur. He started Smith & McClain Builders, Inc., which specializes in high-end construction, energy auditing, and cutting-edge energy efficiency. Owen is currently pursuing his JD at Vermont Law School, where he teaches Legal Writing as a Dean's Fellow and serves as the Senior Articles Editor of the Vermont Law Review.

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ELENA MIHALY

JD Candidate 2013

Elena Mihaly graduated from Colorado College in 2007 with a BA in Environmental Science. While finishing her undergraduate degree, Elena also pursued a certification from the American Mountain Guides Association and became a professional rock climbing guide in 2006. After graduating and guiding, Elena moved to Southern France where she taught environmental science and global energy curriculum to international high school students. Elena then worked in South Africa for an international study abroad program, coordinating a summer-long course in ecology and cultural history. Elena is also interested in food and agriculture policy. Before enrolling at VLS, she worked on a Healthy Weight Initiative at the Vermont Attorney General’s office, and then for six months on a small-scale Vermont dairy farm. At VLS, she is pursuing her JD and Masters in Environmental Law and Policy. She is an active member of the Food and Agriculture Law Society, and is currently co-authoring a chapter with Professor Jason Czarnezki in a forthcoming book on Food and Agriculture Policy.

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SAMANTHA RUIZ

MELP Candidate 2013

Samantha earned a BS from the University of Central Florida in Legal Studies with minors in Urban Planning and Energy & Sustainability. As a student at UCF, Samantha was a founding member of the international environmental organization, I.D.E.A.S.  (Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions). Serving as the president of the UCF chapter in 2010 and currently serving as the Policy Director, Samantha has developed awareness campaigns and policies for students to implement at their Universities. In the summer of 2010, Samantha interned with the Florida Conservation Alliance, a non-profit organization working to protect, conserve and restore Florida's natural environment through citizen education and action.  During her time with FCA, Samantha co-authored a "Clean Energy Cookbook" to guide Florida policymakers through options for developing renewable energy and energy efficient projects.  Samantha is passionate about developing solutions for a clean energy future and plans to use her degree to pioneer positive change in the environmental field.

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KATIE THOMAS

JD, MELP, Energy Certificate Candidate 2013

Katie currently serves on the Smart Grid Team at the Energy Institute. She is working on her J.D., Masters in Environmental Law and Policy, and a Certificate in Energy Law. She graduated magna cum laude from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale in 2009 with a BA in Political Science and minors in Spanish and Environmental Studies. Katie attended college on a full-ride competitive debate scholarship. She was the only female on her team. During college she co-organized a campaign to pass a green fee that established a fund for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on campus. After college she spent a year working first for the U.S. Student Public Interest Research Group in St. Louis, MO and then for a company that sells and installs renewable energy systems in eight states in the Midwest. She is currently pursuing a classroom and experiential education in energy law. She serves as the Vermont Law GLBT Alliance Co-Chair and is active in the Vermont chapter of 350.org, an organization fighting climate change. Katie grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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BRIAN THOMSON

MELP Candidate 2013

Brian Thomson has almost ten years of experience living in Asia, where he worked for the United Nations, USAID, and the King Mongkut University of Technology. While at the United Nations, he edited the State of the Environment for Asia and the Pacific 2005 report, and helped prepare numerous documents for deliberation by UN member states. Later, he served the UN as a public information officer, in which role he wrote press releases and newsletters and organized press conferences on UN activities in Asia. This included assisting the UN with media coordination Cyclone Nargis relief efforts, one of the most deadly disasters in history. After leaving the UN, Mr. Thomson was a reporting and monitoring manager for a USAID-funded clean energy and climate program that spanned six Asian countries, China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand. He speaks Japanese and Thai.

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KAREN WHITE

MELP/JD 2014

Before coming to Vermont Law School, Karen worked for several years as a Senior Administrative Technician at the American Association of Retired People (AARP) in Washington, DC while she completed her Associates Degree in Science at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC). She then went on to receive a BA in Public Policy with a concentration in ecology and the environment from Vanderbilt University.  During the summer she interned with the American Public Power Association (APPA) and wrote several technical topic briefs and an article on smart grid. Since joining the VLS community, Karen has been heavily engaged in the Student Bar Association as a Senator; she is also the Vice President of the newly founded Vermont Law School Philosophy Society. Karen aspires to make a significant impact on building a clean energy future for the United States and the world. 

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DAVID ZOPPO

JD Candidate 2013

David Zoppo graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2010, with a major in Political Science and a minor in History. Throughout his undergraduate career, David worked in various capacities at several small businesses in the Raleigh, NC area. He has worked in fields such as sales, accounting, business development, internet marketing, and website content moderation. In the Fall of 2008, David traveled to Cape Town, South Africa to study politics and development in contemporary South Africa. While there, he also worked with the AIDS Law Project to help provide humanitarian relief and legal advocacy for refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants who were displaced as a result of a series of xenophobic attacks that took place earlier that year. The summer after his 1L year, David worked as an intern for the in-house counsel at ABB, Inc., a global leader in power products, power automation systems, and other high and low voltage equipment that is used in generation, transmission and distribution systems throughout the world. In addition to working as a researcher at the IEE, David also serves on the production staff of the Vermont Law Review.