Thiti Waikavee, 2005 Environmental and Natural Resources Law LLM Graduate, Admitted to University of Auckland PhD Program

Thiti Waikavee, a 2005 University of Denver Sturm College of Law LLM graduate from the Environmental and Natural Resources Law program, has been admitted to the University of Auckland Faculty of Law PhD program.

Mr. Waikavee, who earned a certificate in Environmental Law and Policy while studying at DU, is a licensed attorney in his home country of Thailand where he practices law. He received his law degree from Ramkhamhaeng University.

He has been involved in matters regarding the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Alternative Energy Glossary and Reference Guide 2nd Edition Published and Available for Free

The law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP has published the second edition of the Alternative Energy Glossary and Reference Guide. Included in the glossary are terms such as biofuels, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, LEED buildings, smart grid, ocean thermal, solar, tide, wave, and wind.

The 96-page publication can be accessed by clicking here.

The guide will be a welcome addition to the library of any organization or person working in the alternative energy sector.

Presidential Management Fellows Program to be Discussed at College of Law by 2007 DU JD and LLM Graduate Theresa Corless on Sept. 28

Theresa I. Corless, a University of Denver Sturm College of Law JD and LLM graduate, will speak at the college of law at noon on Sept. 28 noon about the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program.

Ms. Corless, environmental coordinater for special projects at the Rio Grande National Forest/San Luis Valley Public Lands Center, earned her LLM from the Environmental and Natural Resource Law program at the college of law. Following completion of her studies at DU, Ms. Corless earned a prestigious spot as a Presidential Management Fellow.

The program is a competitive two-year government leadership fellowship. Although due to federal regulation there are no "attorney" positions in the PMF, many attorneys and those with legal backgrounds find relevant positions in the program. At the end of the two years, fellows are placed in a permanent position.

Students are eligible in the year in which they receive a graduate degree. The application period is Oct. 1-15. More information about applying can be found by clicking here.

Recent EPA Hearing: "A Little Like High School" According to One Observer

What takes place at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hearings? Sometimes you might be surprised.

Andrea Gelfuso, who teaches environmental law at the University of Denver, wrote recently about an EPA hearing she attended in August. Ms. Gelfuso, an environmental lawyer herself, was a bit surprised. Please click here to read her observations that were first published in the High Country News.

Former Assistant Secretaries of the Interior John A. Carver and Rebecca C. Watson Speak at Sturm College of Law; Key Issues and Challenges Explained

Two former Assistant Secretaries of the U.S. Department of the Interior, John A. Carver Jr. and Rebecca C. Watson, recently discussed their tenures at the Department of Interior in a wide-ranging presentation at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

Mr. Carver served as an Assistant Secretary during the administrations of President John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Baines Johnson while Ms. Watson served in the administration of President George W. Bush.

Former Secretary Carver, who also was a professor at the college of law from 1972 through the mid-2000s, began by describing the relationship between the nation's public lands and the history and development of the United States. He noted that during much of the country's history the matter of "what should be the ultimate disposition of these public lands" has been debated and pondered.

Among the key issues during his tenure, from 1961-1966, were the role of public lands in the provision of forage for cattle and the resulting grazing fees as well as undertaking a major land survey of Alaska, which at that time had only recently been admitted to the U.S. He also noted with some humor the challenges he faced between the policy officers in the department and the solicitor's office.

Former Secretary Watson, a Sturm College of Law 1978 JD graduate and currently a partner at the Denver-based firm of Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley PC, mentioned the major event -- the 9/11 terrorist attack -- that took place just before she assumed her role. That event played a large role in the projects she ultimately was involved in including how to protect critical energy infrastructure and the role of energy more generally as a national security issue. A second key focus was the matter of catastrophic wild fires and what could be done to reduce the risk of such catastrophies. Finally she described the concept of "cooperative conservation," which was emphasized by her boss, former Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton (also a DU JD graduate), and her ultimate boss President Bush.

Secretary Watson also told the students about the three guiding principals that she employed at the Department of the Interior including: (1) creating a team; (2) providing the team leadership in the form of defining where the team was headed and making decisions; and (3) the need to always be aware, from an ethical standpoint, of the high standards that one should uphold while in public office.

Despite the 40 years that separated Secretaries Carver and Watson, several observations are crystal clear. First, they both loved their time at the Department of the Interior. Secretary Carver said his time there represented "the best job I ever had." Second, the desire to serve the public was considered a high honor as well as an important responsibility to both secretaries. Third, because of their close associations with the College of Law there was much for all of us to learn about their pride and loyalty to an institution that has been and continues to be an important part of their lives.

And finally, it was simply impossible for those of us in the audience not to benefit from the professionalism these two leaders displayed in their respect for their roles as public servants. This is no small lesson to be considered in contemporary times that are often colored by disagreements and heated disputes. When we watch individuals from different times, different generations, and different political backgrounds provide thoughtful and respectful commentary about their careers and the challenges they faced we are reminded of the powerful positive examples that can be reflected in how one conducts his or her career.

John A. Carver Jr. and Rebecca C. Watson -- two esteemed members of the Sturm College of Law community, who taught all of us more about life and success in an hour than we often learn in months and even years.

--Don C. Smith

(Editor's note: John A. Carver Jr. is in the top photo; in the middle photo from left Rebecca Watson, John A. Carver Jr, Don C. Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resource Law program, and Professor of Law K.K. DuVivier; bottom photo is of Rebecca Watson.)

Sherry Manning, 2010 Masters of Resource Law Studies Graduate, Returns to the Philippines to Work on Eco-Tourism Organic Farm

Sherry Manning, a University of Denver Sturm College of Law Masters in Resource Law Studies graduate, has returned to the Philippines where she lived from March 2006 to August 2008 while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Ms. Manning's return to the Philippines will involve her efforts to help the ENCA Eco-Tourism Organic Farm become an official non-profit organization in the country. During her earlier time in the Philippines, Ms. Manning helped establish the ENCA farm as a leading eco-tourism destination.

The ENCA farm is located in the Cordillera Mountain Range in Tublay Benguet. The ENCA farm, which is named after Enrique and Carmen Cosalan, has been in the Acop and Cosalan families since the 1800s. For many generations the farm served as a means of sustenance for the families who lived there. Four years ago the farm was opened as an eco-tourism site for the public.

Through Ms. Manning's efforts, the ENCA farm has been recognized in Washington state as a non-profit organization. Ms. Manning and others are hoping that the ENCA farm will become a U.S. recognized non-profit in the near future. In the meantime, Ms. Manning will work from now until mid-December on seeking non-profit status in the Philippines.

The non-profit designation is important as part of the ENCA farm's fund raising efforts, which are aimed at helping the farm's programs develop and "become more accessible to organic farmers through the Philippines," according to Ms. Manning.

Colorado Bar Association Offers Free Memberships to Law Students

Students at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law may join the Colorado Bar Association for free, an offer that is sure to be of interest to all students studying environmental, energy, and natural resources law (among other topics).

Student members enjoy the rights and privileges of active members as may be defined by the Board of Governors.

The student membership application can be accessed by clicking here.

Joining the CBA is a great way to network with practicing attorneys and, as a consequence, build one's professional network. It is never too early for a student to begin thinking about how to establish and expand his or her own network of contacts.