2024 Villanova Environmental Law Journal Blank Rome LLP Symposium, 02/09
“Blame, Burden and Bravery: Gender Justice, Indigenous Justice and the Environment”
Friday, February 9
9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Laurence E. Hirsch ’71 Classroom (Room 101)
John F. Scarpa Hall
Recent years have seen a surge of attention focused on environmental justice, recognizing that environmental burdens tend to fall disproportionately on certain populations. Often neglected in conversations about environmental justice, however, is the role of gender, and yet evidence suggests that gender is a significant factor in environmental issues. Studies indicate that women are more concerned about environmental issues and engage in more environmentally responsible practices than men. Women have played important roles in the environmental movement, and yet men have tended to occupy formal leadership positions in environmental agencies and organizations. Women have played a particularly strong role in indigenous environmental activism.
The 2024 Villanova Environmental Law Journal Blank Rome LLP Symposium will focus on the association between gender and the environment and how a stronger understanding of that link can facilitate better environmental policies and practices in both the private and public sectors. Expert panelists from legal practice and the academy will offer their insights and ideas.
The Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board has approved this event for 3 substantive CLE credits. Please note registration for this event is required.
AGENDA
9:00 –10:00 a.m.: Women in Environmental Leadership
- Cecilia Herles, Assistant Director, Institute for Women’s Studies, University of Georgia
- Christina Kaba, Vice President, General Counsel & Human Resources, Covation Biomaterials
- Liesel Schwarz ’18 MS, Senior Associate, Verdis Group
Moderated by Terri Boyer, EdD, ’95 CLAS, Assistant Vice Provost of Centers and Institutes, Director of the Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women's Leadership and Associate Professor of Education & Counseling, Villanova University and Audrey Heuser '24
10:15 –11:15 a.m.: The Eco-Gender Gap
- Heather Bustos, Partner, Bustos Law Group
- Kevin Newman, Associate Professor, Providence College School of Business
Moderated by Rachel Murray '24
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Indigenous Leadership
- Cecilia Gobin, Conservation Policy Analyst, Northwestern Indian Fisheries Commission
- Rebecca Crooks-Stratton, Secretary/Treasurer, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
- Heather Tanana, Visiting Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine School of Law
- Stefanie Tsosie, Senior Attorney, Earthjustice
Moderated by Taylor Wilson '24
Co-sponsored by the Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women's Leadership and
the Villanova Strategic Initiative for Climate, Justice and Sustainability
