Originally published by the Colorado Law School Amicus Fall 2024 on Oct. 7, 2024

A legal career in land conservation may often feel unattainable for recent law school graduates. The pressure to pay off student loan debt, coupled with the often-lower paying salaries in public interest jobs, could prompt them to look elsewhere. However, thanks to the Wyss Scholars Program, funded by the Wyss Foundation, one Colorado Law student each year receives generous financial assistance to cover the cost of one-third of law school tuition and expenses, as well as funds for internship opportunities and professional development support.

The program's impact will soon grow; starting in fall 2025, the Wyss Foundation will fund two Wyss Scholars at Colorado Law each year. “The Wyss Scholars Program is a strategic and impactful partnership between Colorado Law and the Wyss Foundation,” said Chris Winter, executive director of the Getches-Wilkinson Center, who oversees the Wyss Scholars Program. “Through the program, scholars get exactly the right kind of support that can make a difference in the trajectory of their careers. We’re very grateful for the support of the Wyss Foundation, and we are thrilled that the students at Colorado Law have this opportunity.”

Wyss Scholarships are awarded to promising leaders in United States land conservation. Scholars learn the latest in conservation law and policy and apply that knowledge in careers at land management agencies and nonprofit conservation groups often with a focus on the protection of public lands. Lawyers in this field provide legal and political counsel on a broad range of land and water use issues—work that is critical to ensuring the protection of public lands now and into the future.

Colorado Law is one of only six public institutions in the U.S to host the Wyss Foundation Wyss Scholars Program. The program has had a profound impact on scholarship recipients' lives since the first Wyss Scholar was selected in 2018. For these students, this funding has been instrumental in the path they have taken both during their final year of law school and in the two years following.[“Being selected as a Wyss Scholar was huge for a number of reasons,” explained Eric Dude ’19. “Public interest and environmental law work is not very lucrative for law students, so the scholarship allowed me to search for more interesting internship opportunities while I was still in law school.”

The summer after being selected as a Wyss Scholar, Dude interned for the Access Fund, a national climbing advocacy organization, where his work centered around protection of national monuments and sustainable recreational access. Dude shared that without the financial support of the Wyss Scholars Program, he would not have been able to take advantage of such an opportunity.

The case was similar for Colorado Law's 2020-21 Wyss Scholar Alex Hamilton ’21, who was able to work an unpaid externship during his 3L year for a Wyoming nonprofit focused on state and federal public lands policy.

“The stipend allowed me to work at Wyoming Outdoor Council and do more coursework instead of taking a paid job,” Hamilton explained. “I was able to do something a little more in my wheelhouse, despite not being paid for it.”

After graduation, Dude and Hamilton accepted jobs in their desired fields. While the funding played a huge role in the direction of their early careers, Dude emphasized the overall value of being affiliated with the Wyss Scholars Program.

“Lots of people have resumes in law school that say they are interested in environmental law,” Dude shared. “But, to say ‘I'm part of the Wyss program’ is to say public lands is my focus, I know and understand public lands law, and I want to do something specifically in that area.”

Dude believes that he was able to get his dream job as an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Department of the Interior Solicitor’s Office because of his Wyss Scholarship.

“As far as setting up your career, the Wyss program is huge in ways I don't think you appreciate when you first get named a Wyss Scholar,” Dude said. “There is a whole network of scholars, and to say that you have dedicated your life to public lands work helps people know you are serious about it and not just seeking a job.”

Dude has remained at the Solicitor's Office since he was first hired after graduation. He currently works for the Solicitor's Office Rocky Mountain Region in Denver, where he counsels the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service on various public lands issues.

Hamilton also experienced the significant positive impact of the scholarship program upon graduation. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service through the Presidential Management Fellowship—the federal government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree holders—as a forest planner for the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico.

“It was nice to have the Wyss Scholarship because I was hired at a much lower salary than if I had taken an attorney position,” Hamilton explained. “It filled that gap for me, which was critical.”

Hamilton eventually transitioned from his role at the U.S. Forest Service to working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of General Counsel as an attorney-advisor. He shared that the scholarship provided a strong impetus to stay in public lands work, in part because the payment disburses over the first two years of the recipient’s practice.

“The longer you are in this field, the more expertise you get and the easier it is to stay,” Hamilton said. “I can’t really imagine leaving a career in federal lands management at this point. It is so interesting, so rewarding, and having the knowledge that I was going to have that support the first couple of years from the Wyss Scholarship program was great.”

The success of past Wyss Scholars not only demonstrates the prestige and impact of the program itself, but also the depth and breadth of Colorado Law’s natural resources and environmental law program.

For more than half a century, environmental and natural resources law have been a key part of the Colorado Law curriculum. The program has ranked consistently among the very best in the nation, most recently being named a top 10 program in environmental law by U.S. News and World Report.

Both Dude and Hamilton shared that they were drawn to Colorado Law because of the strength of its environmental law program. The world-class faculty, engaging curriculum, and experiential learning opportunities provide students with the support and expertise they need to have successful careers at law firms, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies.

“I was not someone who always thought law school was the path,” Dude shared. “When I made that decision, I specifically wanted to make a career in public lands and researched schools that were strong in that area—and Colorado Law was at the top of the list.”

Last spring, Mariah Bowman ’25 was named Colorado Law’s 2024-25 Wyss Scholar. She is eager to combine her love for the land with her overwhelming certainty that climate action is the best thing we can do for it.

“I was thrilled to be selected for the Wyss Scholars Program this year,” Bowman shared. “The program will help me pursue my interests at the intersection of public lands and climate policy. I am really looking forward to meeting other Wyss Scholars, past and present, and continuing to learn about public lands law and policy."

Last summer, she interned with the U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division. She hopes to dedicate her career to conservation work and believes the Wyss Scholarship will be instrumental in this pursuit.

The Wyss Scholars Program continues to bolster Colorado Law as a top-ranked institution for environmental law. We are thrilled to see the success of our past Wyss Scholars and look forward to
seeing what future scholarship recipients will accomplish as they embark on their careers.

Meet the Colorado Law Wyss Scholars

Eric Dude '19, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of the Interior

Leah Fugere '20, WilmerHale

Alex Hamilton '21, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Johnsie Wilkinson '22, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Interior

Jacob Jose '23, Wildlife and Marine Resources Section, U.S. Department of Justice

Adam Fisher '24, Colorado Supreme Court, Chambers of Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright

Mariah Bowman '25, (current 3L student)

Originally published by the Colorado Law School Amicus Fall 2024 on Oct. 7, 2024

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Wyss Scholars Adam Fisher and Mariah Bowman with Sally Jewell

Last week the Getches-Wilkinson Center was honored to host former Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell for a lunchtime conversation with students at Wolf Law. The event was supported by the and provided an intimate opportunity for students to learn from the Secretary. Moderated by Colorado Law 2023 Wyss Scholar Adam Fisher, a full room of students asked Secretary Jewell questions on topics ranging from her career history to how the conservation movement can take meaningful steps to address the needs of Indigenous Americans. Throughout the conversation, the Secretary enforced both the importance of strong advocacy from all sides of an issue, and the need for students and decisionmakers to listen to, and learn from, these differing points of view. Secretary Jewell advised students to explore, get to know themselves, and find career paths that capitalized on their inherent strengths and interests—with the knowledge that they could affect change from both inside and outside of business, nonprofit, and government institutions. When asked about her views on the future of the conservation movement, Secretary Jewell expressed faith that by working from each of these positions, the next generation would both continue the conservation legacy and carry the torch forward, pushing the movement to make needed changes and address the needs of the future.

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Growing the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders: A Student Conversation with Secretary Jewell

The Getches-Wilkinson Center and Wyss Scholars Program invited �鶹��Ѱ�����Law students to join Sally Jewell, former Secretary of the Interior during the Obama administration, for an interactive conversation on the future of conservation. In addition to her government experience, Secretary Jewell has held leadership roles with conservation-minded organizations across the for-profit (e.g., REI, Costco) and nonprofit realms (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, The Mountaineers). Secretary Jewell shared her views on how the government, nonprofit, and business sectors all have roles to play in shaping the future of the conservation movement, including opportunities she sees for students to maximize their impact. For the majority of the event, the format leaned toward the conversational, with Secretary Jewell responding to student questions.

Colorado Law is one of six leading institutions to host the which supports the graduate-level education of emerging leaders in U.S. land conservation by providing scholarships, mentorship, and community.

Tues, April 2nd 12-12:45pm
Room 307
This event is not open to the public and is intended for the �鶹��Ѱ�����Law student community.
Registration not required and lunch will be provided.

As a business executive and public servant serving as U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Obama from 2013-17, Sally Jewell focused on supporting a robust economy coupled with long-term sustainability of our natural world and its diverse people.  During her tenure as Interior Secretary, she used a science-based, landscape-level, collaborative approach to natural resources management.  She was deeply engaged in rebuilding a trusting, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous communities in the U.S., supporting opportunities for greater engagement in public land stewardship and providing improved educational opportunities for native youth.  She worked with President Obama and his team on long-term conservation of our nation’s most vulnerable and irreplaceable natural, cultural, and historical treasures, protecting more lands and waters than any other U.S. president in history.  Working with industry, states, and the community, Jewell and her team also facilitated thoughtful development of renewable energy on public lands and waters, one of many steps taken to address climate change and biodiversity loss.

Prior to serving on President Obama’s cabinet, Jewell was President and CEO of REI Co-op, a $3 billion retailer dedicated to facilitating outdoor adventures.  This followed 19 years in commercial banking and an early career as an engineer in the energy industry. 

Jewell served as the Fritzky Chair in Leadership at the University of Washington Foster School of Business in 2021-22, helping students and faculty in business and across the university explore opportunities to put their diverse skills to work in creating a sustainable future for our planet.  Her prior academic appointments have included the University of Washington College of the Environment and Harvard University’s J. F. Kennedy School of Government.

Jewell has received recognition for her community service through numerous awards and honorary degrees, including the University of Washington’s highest alumni honor, Alumna Summa Laude Dignata, the Director of the Year Award from the National Association of Corporate Directors for her non-profit service, and the Rachel Carson Award from the Audubon Society.  She continues active volunteer leadership in several organizations including The Nature Conservancy, for which she served as interim CEO for one year in 2019-20, the Aspen Institute’s Center for Native American Youth, EarthLab at the University of Washington, and others.  She also serves on several corporate boards, including Costco, Symetra, and Green Diamond Resources.

Jewell is deeply committed to sharing knowledge with emerging generations on the multiple facets of democracy and civil society needed to shape a future that is economically successful and environmentally sustainable.

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University of Colorado Law School student Mariah Bowman (’25) has been named the 2024-2025 Colorado Law Wyss Scholar in U.S. Lands Conservation. Bowman, a J.D. candidate, is Colorado Law’s seventh Wyss Scholar. , funded by the , is awarded to one Colorado Law student each year, supports graduate-level education for promising leaders in United States land conservation. Recipients receive generous financial assistance to cover the full cost of one year of law school, as well as funds for internship opportunities, research assistance, and postgraduate support. Wyss Scholars learn the latest in conservation law and policy and apply that knowledge in careers at land management agencies and nonprofit conservation groups.

Mariah is a third generation Coloradoan. She used to be interested in pursuing a career in solely land conservation. Now, she believes that without climate action, we can set aside all the land we want, but it will be sick land. She wants to combine her love for the land with her overwhelming certainty that climate action is the best thing we can do for it. She hopes to pursue a career at the crossroads of land conservation and climate policy, working for either the state or federal government.

By the time she graduates law school, she will have a wide breadth of experience both working for governments generally and doing environmental work for them. She will have worked for local, state and federal governments. And she will have worked for all three branches of the federal government, and at least two branches of state governments. She is committed to understanding how the levers of power work, so that she can help move them to protect our land, health, and future.

Before law school, she served as the Chief of Staff to Delegate Gooditis, who was then the Vice Chair of the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates. Because of this committee assignment, she researched and drafted many environmental bills, working with state officials, advocacy organizations, and industry stakeholders to do so.

She is particularly excited by the Wyss Scholar network, and having opportunities to connect with others who are doing important work in land conservation. She has accepted an internship with the U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division for this Summer. She hopes to continue to do conservation work for the rest of her life, and believes the Wyss Scholarship will be instrumental in this pursuit.

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Adam Fisher is Colorado Law's current Wyss Foundation Wyss Scholar. His recent article "Pay to Play? The Past, Present, and Future of Recreation Fees on Federal Public Lands" is live in this month's issue of the Environmental Law Reporter. The article explores the thorny issue of public land recreation fees, places the current debate in historical context, and makes suggestions for legal and policy reforms that will help the public land system meet the "new normal" of increased visitation. The article pays special attention to the trend toward mandatory reservation systems routed through Recreation.gov, which are increasingly salient to both the public and land managers, but currently lack appropriate legal guardrails. 

Read the full article here.

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At Getches-Wilkinson Center we understand the financial burden of attending Law School. We have compiled a list of resources to help �鶹��Ѱ�����Law Students access available Scholarships and Fellowships from within the GWC, �鶹��Ѱ�����Law School and outside resources.

The Getches-Wilkinson Center is now accepting applications for Summer 2024 and Academic Year 24/25 Scholarships and Fellowships in Natural Resources, Public Lands and Water Law.Opportunities include:
The Wyss Scholars Program for U.S. Lands Conservation
The Harrison Fellowship in International Water Law
New in 2023: Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellowship
The deadline to apply is Friday, January 19, 2024.
Full position descriptions can be found here.
A recording of the Fall Lunch and Learn with information about each opportunity can be found here.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Contact GWC Assistant Director, Annie Carlozzi at annie.carlozzi@colorado.edu or 303-492-1286.

The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law is offering more than $276,000 in scholarships for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year! These scholarships are intended for students who are interested in natural resources and energy law. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $15,000 will be awarded based on academic achievement, financial need and other criteria. 

  

In 2020, the Foundation launched its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship Program. This program aims to recognize and support JD applicants who have an interest in natural resources and energy law, who identiy as Black, Indigenous, Latino or Latina, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, or other person of color and meet other applicable criteria.

Colorado Law School is committed to making a Colorado Law education as affordable as possible. Thanks to their community of alumni and friends, they are able to award hundreds of scholarships each year. Descriptions of gift-funded scholarships can be found here.
Each spring, the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee sends out more information about these scholarships, including the application packet.

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Over 40 �鶹��Ѱ�����Law students joined The Getches-Wilkinson Center on Thursday, October 26th for a delicious lunch and to hear from current GWC Scholar and Fellows. Information on the various scholarships and fellowships and instructions on how to apply for a Summer 2024 or Academic Year 24/25 Scholarship or Fellowship in Natural Resources, Public Lands and Water Law was shared.

Opportunities highlighted:

The Wyss Scholars Program for U.S. Lands Conservation

The Harrison Fellowship in International Water Law

The Charles N. Woodruff Memorial Scholarship

New in 2023: Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellowship

RECORDING OF THE EVENT CAN BE FOUND HERE:

[video:https://youtu.be/pemOzqt6Odo]

Current �鶹��Ѱ�����Law students Adam Fischer, Ella Merrill and Sierra Meggitt shared their experiences obtaining funding to promote their future career interests.

Adam Fisher is this year’s Wyss Scholar. Fisher, a JD candidate, is Colorado Law's sixth Wyss Scholar. The Wyss Scholarship, given to one Colorado Law student each year, supports graduate-level education for promising leaders in Western land conservation. Recipients receive generous financial assistance to cover the full cost of one year of law school, as well as funds for internship opportunities, research assistance, and postgraduate support.

Ella Merrill, as a Harrison Fellow, partnered with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Legal Resources Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, to assist with and write about a series of cases that address the right to clean and accessible drinking water, guaranteed by the South African Constitution. One series of cases addresses decades of mismanagement of the country’s water and sanitation services system, and the numerous human rights fallouts that have resulted. Another series of cases focuses on the way water conservation efforts have led to the displacement of indigenous subsistence fishermen, including several fatal shootings by game rangers.

Sierra Meggitt, as the Charles N. Woodruff Fellow, worked with Western Resource Advocates and the Getches-Wilkinson Center’s Water Fellows on issues surrounding oil shale water rights in Colorado. Additionally, with assistance from the Sandgrund Environmental Law Fellowship, Sierra is worked with American Rivers, conducting research at the intersection of the Antiquities Act, river protection, and tribal co-management.

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Michelle White is a staff attorney at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance where her work focuses on issues in public lands including RS 2477 disputes and litigation arising under the Antiquities Act. She graduated from University of Colorado School of Law, where she interned with the Natural Resources Defense Council and United States Department of the Interior. After school, she worked as the Getches-Wyss Fellow at the Getches-Wilkinson Center, before beginning her current position with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

Ahead of her participation on our panel of professionals for the upcoming student event, Careers in Public Lands and Why They Matter, Michelle shared thoughts on her journey to a public lands career.

Briefly describe your role with SUWA and how it relates to the conservation of public lands.
I’m a staff attorney and spend a majority of my time on more than 20 cases that the state of Utah and its counties filed against the United States that claim over 12,000 rights-of-way over public lands. Due to the volume of claims and uncertainty surround the legal standards, the Utah District Court has created a process that we refer to as “bellwether” litigation that will help clarify legal standards and eventually facilitate settlement of the lawsuits. The right-of-way claims matter specifically to SUWA’s overriding mission to preserve wilderness-quality landscapes in Utah because, by definition, wilderness must be “roadless.” More broadly, roads have a significant impact on conservation because they tend to fragment landscapes, impact cultural resources, and adversely affect wildlife. 

How did your time at GWC or �鶹��Ѱ�����Law School play into your career choice?
�鶹��Ѱ�����offers a lot of classes that are directly relevant to, and necessary for, public land law. I would not be surprised if it’s the only law school that makes discussion of R.S. 2477 a part of the public land law course (or did when I was a student). There were also a lot of professors who were deeply involved in and passionate about public lands and were also very helpful during my career search.

What life experiences made you want to dedicate your career to your public lands?
Working at Yellowstone.

What advice would you give to law students who are curious about careers in conservation?
Intern or extern in both nonprofits and government positions as much as possible. Consider clerking. Be sure to take admin law. Don’t forget that your 1L classes are relevant.

Are there individuals at �鶹��Ѱ�����Law that had an impact or influenced your decision to go into public lands?
Actually, I think they all may have left. Karin Sheldon and Bruce Krammer may still teach.

What is your favorite public land to visit?

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�鶹��Ѱ�����Law is one of six leading institutions to host the which supports the graduate-level education of emerging leaders in U.S. land conservation by providing scholarships, mentorship, and community. Early this semester, the GWC partnered with the Wyss Scholars Program to present a panel discussion on "Public Interest Careers in Public Lands and Why They Matter." The event featured three distinguished �鶹��Ѱ�����Law alumni working in public land conservation: Scott Miller ’98, Senior Regional Director for the Southwest Region at the Wilderness Society; Michelle White ‘17, Staff Attorney at Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance; and Roger Flynn ‘91, founding Director at the Western Mining Action Project. The discussion was moderated by Adam Fisher, a 3L and �鶹��Ѱ�����Law’s 2023-24 Wyss Scholar.

The discussion provided students with insights into the panelists' careers and the breadth of public land law and conservation. The panelists also spoke on both the impact and meaningful nature of their work, for example, by safeguarding endangered species, collaborating with Indian Tribes to better protect key resources, or blocking inappropriate mineral development. One highlight of the conversation came when the panel discussed their efforts to establish and protect both the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, emblematic battlegrounds for public land conservation.

Student interest in the subject was evident, with a full room and ample questions for the panelists. Post-event, this enthusiasm has continued, with strong student engagement in a variety of other GWC events, including at an information session on the 2024-25 Wyss Scholars Program and other opportunities available through the GWC. In sum, a shared dedication to preserving the nation's natural and cultural resources remains palpable among students, faculty, and alumni­—fostering an atmosphere at �鶹��Ѱ�����Law where interest in public land law continues to flourish.

RECORDING OF THIS EVENT CAN BE FOUND HERE:
 

[video:https://youtu.be/j9UmMVdgbW4]

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John Leshy, Author
Distinguished Professor of Law
University of California, Hastings College of Law

The little-known story of how the U.S. government came to hold nearly one-third of the nation’s land and manage it primarily for recreation, education and conservation.

America’s public lands include more than 600 million acres of forests, plains, mountains, wetlands, deserts, and shorelines. In this book, John Leshy, a leading expert in public lands policy, discusses the key political decisions that led to this, beginning at the very founding of the nation. He traces the emergence of a bipartisan political consensus in favor of the national government holding these vast land areas primarily for recreation, education, and conservation of biodiversity and cultural resources. That consensus remains strong and continues to shape American identity. Such a success story of the political system is a bright spot in an era of cynicism about government. This book is essential reading for anyone who cares about public lands, and it is particularly timely as the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Panel Moderator

Professor Mark Squillace, University of Colorado Raphael J. Moses Professor of Law

Panelists

Eric Dude, U.S. Department of the Interior, Attorney/Advisory (2019 Colorado Law Wyss Scholar)

Alison Flint, The Wilderness Society, Senior Legal Director

Maria Handley, The Wilderness Society, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships & Organizing

Professor Patty Limerick, University of Colorado Center of the American West

Johnsie Wilkinson, Colorado Law rising 3L (2021 Colorado Law Wyss Scholar)

Presented by the Colorado Law Wyss Scholar is U.S. Lands Conservation, the Colorado Environmental Law Journal, and the Getches-Wilkinson Center.

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